Jessie Willis Rivers

Jessie Willis Rivers, 93 of Leesburg, GA, died Saturday October 1, 2011 at Lee County Health Care. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at Mathews Funeral Home. The Reverend Freeman G. Cross will officiate. Interment will follow at Leesburg Cemetery.

A native of Sherwood, TN, Mrs. Rivers had resided in the Leesburg, Albany area since 1964 moving from Burlingame, CA. She graduated from Franklin County High School in 1937, she enrolled at Baroness Erlanger School of Nursing in Chattanooga School of Nursing, and received her degree in 1940. After some private duty nursing, she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in May 15, 1941 as an officer and served until August 1944. She married Lt. (JG) William Jacocks Rivers of Pearl Harbor, T.H. on March 13, 1944 and her subsequent pregnancy ended her stint in the US Army.

Mrs. Rivers was a 53 year member and past Regent, Vice Regent, and served several terms as Treasurer of the Thronateeska Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, honorary member of the Daffodil Garden Club, Golden Key Club, Albany Audubon Society, The Flint River Power Squadron Auxiliary and the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Dawson, GA. She was preceded in death by a son, William Jacocks Rivers, Jr., a daughter, Mary Elisabeth Rivers, her parents James Wood and Laura Garner Willis and a sister Annie Laura Willis Prince.

Survivors include her husband Ret. Commander William J. Rivers, Sr., USN of Leesburg, GA, two sons William James Rivers of Arnold, CA and Wilfred Wilson Rivers of Burleson, TX, a daughter, Suzanne Rivers Purvis of Leesburg, GA, seven grandchildren and fourteen great- grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday, October 3, 2011 at Mathews Funeral Home from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.