JESSIE MAE (CULPEPPER) MAYS
Our Heavenly Father called home our precious mother, Jessie Mae (Culpepper) Mays, 85, formerly of Wellington, Texas, at 4:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. She passed away at Park Village Nursing Home in DeSoto, Texas.
A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Victory Temple Church, 300 Corsicana St., in Wellington. Herman Moore, of Carter Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, of Amarillo, Texas, will serve as officiant, and Robert L. Grimes Jr., of Clovis, N.M., will serve as eulogist.
Jessie Mae was born on March 28, 1940, in Shreveport, La, to Jessie and Helen Culpepper. In 1949, the family moved to Wellington, where Jessie Mae attended Booker T. Washington School.
Over the years, Jessie May worked at various nursing homes, and she also served as a caregiver for three of her siblings. She returned to Wellington after her mother passed away. She lived here until her own health failed in 2020.
Jessie May loved working in her yard and growing flowers. She liked to play bingo and go to casinos. She also loved to cook. Mom loved people and was very protective of her family. She was also very loved by the community of Wellington, where she served as a member of Victory Temple Church.
She was preceded in death by both parents; her brothers, Learvis Culpepper, Jessie Culpepper Jr., Richard Culpepper and Jay Thomas; and her sisters, Imogene Mallory and Helen Culpepper.
Jessie Mae leaves behind two daughters, Shirley Shields, of Arlington, Texas, and Brenda Kilgore, of Clovis, N.M.; four brothers, Calvin Culpepper, of Phoenix, Ariz., James Culpepper, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Larry Culpepper and Kevin Culpepper, both of Wellington; two sisters, Carrie Shannan, of Amarillo, and Debra Kincaid, of Fort Worth; five grandchildren, Antisha Wheeler, of Grand Prairie, Texas, Temika Pettison, of Tacoma, Wash., Psyche Butler, of Crowley, Texas, John Davis, of Fife, Wash., and Renee Kilgore, of Spanaway, Wash.; 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nephews and nieces.
