Jessie L. Motes

Augusta, GA---Mrs. Jessie Langham Motes, 99, widow of the late Paul Broadus Motes, entered into rest on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at Select Specialty Hospital.

Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at Westover Memorial Park with Dr. Timothy Owings officiating.

Jessie was born on November 12, 1908 and reared in Dearing, McDuffie County, Georgia. She was the daughter of the late James Franklin Langham and the late Minnie Smallwood Langham. She was educated in the schools of Dearing, GA.

Her professional career spanned nearly fifty years. She began in sales at Andrew Brothers Department Store on Broad Street in Augusta, Through the years as the stores changed owners to become Saxon-Cullum’s, then Davison”s and then Macy”s, Jessie advanced with their growth. She was instrumental in developing and managing the Georgian Room at Macy’s. For quite a few years, she was the buyer for this department, of better-ladies-to-wear.

Jessie and Broadus were married in June of 1932, in the Dearing Methodist Church. They lived in Dearing, for the first few years of their marriage and then they moved to Warrenton, where Broadus was Superintendent of Schools. In 1938, they moved to Augusta and spent the remainder of their lives, in Augusta. Jessie and Broadus were married 61 years at the time of Broadus’ death in 1993. They were active in the civic, social and church activities. They enjoyed many years of traveling for both business and pleasure. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Augusta and an active member of the Golden Singles Sunday School Class and was a member of the Augusta Country Club. Augusta has truly lost one of its Grand Dames.

Jessie is survived by one sister, Mrs. Alex “Dorothy” Reville, of Thomson, GA. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and Broadus’ nephew, Paul Davis, Jr., his children and grandchildren. She was blessed to have two very caring caregivers, Allie Smith and Wilhelmina Booker.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, September 1, 2008, at Platt’s Crawford Avenue, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.