Funeral services were held Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Sweetwater CME Church for Mrs. Jessie Ruth Graves Thompson (Ma Jess), age 98, who died Friday, July 18, at her residence. Rev. Earnest Thompson officiated with interment following in the church cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Jessie Ruth Thompson was born to the late Annie Lee Graves Hinton in Bassfield. She attended school at Rosenwald. She later married the late C.L. Thompson. She was a homemaker and farmer.

Mrs. Thompson was a member of Sweetwater CME Church where she was an active member of the Missionary Society and class leader.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Hinton Thompson.

She is survived by son, Charles (Eloise) Graves of Bassfield; three adopted sons, Gregory (Pam) Thompson of Katy, TX, Charles H. (Hazel) Graves Thompson and Joe R. (Jacqueline) Graves Thompson both of Bassfield; two grandsons she raised as her own, Patrick (Eula) Graves and James (Leshia) Graves both of Bassfield; two granddaughters, Antweatta Graves and Sandra (Randy) Blackmon both of Bassfield; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; four special cousins, Willis (Helen) Graves, Bertha Graves, and Harold Ann Graves all of Bassfield and Jean (Wilbert) Singleton of Jackson; many other relatives and friends.