Jessie A. McDonald was born August 28, 1938, in Newton, Mississippi, to Mack and Lois Jordan. She attended school up to the10th grade. At age 16 she met and married George Taft McDonald, and from that union they had 6 children, 3 born in Mississippi and 3 born in California.
Jessie was a stay at home mother until all her children were in school, at which time she decided to go back to school and become a teacher. Before finishing her education she became actively involved in her community and politics. While waiting at a bus stop in South Stockton for a long period, the bus did not stop, which made her mad, and she successfully sued the Stockton Transit District, not for money but for benches to sit on while waiting for the bus. Stockton Unified School District created the position of Community Aide for her, she was one of the first to hold that position. Jessie helped start the Satellite Police Program which benefited all of South Stockton. After graduating from college and receiving her teaching credentials, her life long dream was fulfilled. She first taught at Madison Elementary and then on to Lottie Grunsky and then to Pulliam, where she retired. After retiring she substituted at various schools as an acting principle and in elementary and middle school teaching positions. Jessie touched many lives, she accepted Christ at an early age and instilled Christ into her children. She loved shopping and gardening, she had a fabulous green thumb, she could make anything grow.
Jessie is proceeded in death by her father and mother, 5 brothers, Joe, Robert, Victor, Jerry and Jake, 2 sister’s, Rosemary Jordan and Mae Frances. She is survived by one sister, Marilyn Jordan and six children, Michael McDonald ( Schelley), Geraldine Sumabon (Frank), Gale McDonald, David McDonald (Glynnis), Lois McDonald-Green, (Melvin), and George McDonald (Debbie), 8 grandchildren, Rashawn, Tyrone, Jeremy, Aaron, Tiba, Malcolm, Jessica, Destiny, 7 great grandchildren, Saundria, Crashelle, Janeva, Dorian, Matthew, Isaac, and Maxwell, and a host of nieces and nephews.
SERVICES
The family invites friends to join them for the Celebration of Life that will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2017, 2-4 pm, at the Clarion Inn & Suites, 4219 E. Waterloo Road, Stockton, CA 95215.