Jessie Carol (Chandler) Ritchie

Jessie Carol Ritchie, 85 of Gulfport, passed away at Claiborne Assisted Living Center. She was born on August 21, 1936 in Decatur, MS, one of ten children to Walter Stephen and Ludie Idell (Glenn) Chandler. Growing up on the family farm in rural Newton county, Jessie was a true Southern girl that enjoyed the outdoors and playing with her siblings. Of course there were chores, and often lots of them, but she did her part in the gardening, taking care of animals or whatever needed to be done. The family finally got electricity and running water before her teenage years, and that was a big change for them. She graduated from Beulah Hubbard HS in Little Rock, MS, with the Class of 1954. After her father passed away suddenly that same year, her mother moved the family to the Coast and she has called Gulfport home since. Jessie went to work at Colonial Bakery where she met Ray in 1956. They were married just two weeks later, and remained together until his passing in 2000. She also worked as secretary, retiring from the MS Unemployment Office after 30 years of service. Jessie is remembered as a loving mother with high moral character. A Christian by faith, she attended and served at Grace Memorial for many years. Jessie and her entire family were a close-knit and happy family. She enjoyed laughter as much as any of them, and would laugh at stories and each other, at times "until tears ran down their legs". A loving sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, she will be truly missed beyond measure by all who knew and loved her. Jessie was preceded by her parents, Walter and Ludie Chandler, her loving husband, Herbert Ritchie, Sr., and all nine of her siblings. Left to cherish her memories are: her children, daughter Carol (Randy) Stewart, her son Claude Ritchie, both of Gulfport, with her step-son Herbert (Elva) Ritchie, Jr. of Pearlington. Jessie leaves a legacy of two grandchildren, Jacob (Kelly) Bush and Caitlin (Scott) Keiffer, with three great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Bush, Skylar Bush, and Jackson Keiffer, along with numerous extended family and friends through the years. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by the funeral service at 12:00 PM, with Pastor Jacob Vollm officiating. Jessie will be interred in the Biloxi National Cemetery with her late husband, Thursday, March 24th. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Ritchie family in their time of need, and asks everyone to keep them lifted up in your thoughts and prayers through the coming days.