Jessie Lee Lamb

Published 9:02 pm Monday, August 17, 2015

Jessie Lee Lamb, 94, died Aug. 16, 2015. Born in Rocky Hock (Chowan County), N.C., she was the daughter of Jesse Smith and Goldie Parker Smith. On Valentine’s Day 1942, she married Horace Lee Lamb Sr. and they enjoyed 33 years of marriage, until Horace Sr.’s death in 1975. They primarily lived on Carolina Avenue, near downtown Suffolk and next to Peanut Park. She subsequently lived several years in the Oak Ridge section of Suffolk and the last five years of her life at Lake Prince Woods Retirement Community. In all, she lived (very) independently for almost 90 years and for more than 60 years in Suffolk, presumably due to the wonderful smell of roasted peanuts.

She helped Horace Sr. with farming for a few years early in their marriage and, much later, worked for several years as a preschool teacher at First Baptist Church Weekday School. Sandwiched in between the two was the work she enjoyed most: wife and mother.

She was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Suffolk since the 1950s, along with its adult Sunday School class and senior group. If the doors of the church were open, she was there.

She is survived by a son, Horace Lee Lamb Jr. (Cynthia), of Reston, who, to the chagrin of some family members, inherited her sense of humor; four grandchildren: Jacqueline Lee Anderson (Chris), of Arlington, Brittany Regan Lamb, of New York City, John Patrick Lamb, of Arlington, and Victoria Katherine Lamb, of Reston; and two sisters: Hilda Bass, of Jacksonville, N.C., and Margaret Cousins, of Williamsburg. She was predeceased by two sisters: Elizabeth Long and Emma Williams.

A celebration of Jessie’s life will be held Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Suffolk (Main Street). Dr. Thurman Hayes will lead the worship service. Prior to the service, from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m., there will be a viewing at the church. Immediately following the service, the family will greet friends at a reception, also at the church. A brief graveside service at Holly Lawn Cemetery will follow the reception.

Her new residence is in a land with pure and eternal laughter, where she will fit right in. Although she does not deserve this new home (no one does), the King there is a gracious Redeemer and has paid her way. (“O death, where is your sting?”)

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Suffolk, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434, or, for the benefit of Lake Prince Woods benevolence, to United Church Homes and Services Benevolence Fund, 100 Anna Goode Way, Suffolk, VA 23434.

R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, VA 23434, is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at www.RWBakerfh.com.