Pat Jessee
By Sandra Parker
A friend of many people in the arts community of the Tri-Cities, Pat Jessee died in January in Ohio, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and then lived in New Orleans for many years. She came to Bristol about 30 years ago to be with her aging parents. When I was asked to write a memorial for my dear friend, I read a lot of what others who knew and loved her had said, went over all the photos Pat had posted on her Facebook page again —and then, I cried. How I wanted to share all of what I read and saw with you.
I was seeing Pat through the eyes of so many folks — many of those people, also friends of mine. I was seeing what Pat saw when she chose to take a photograph. I was seeing photos that had been taken of her through the years. I was hearing heartwarming stories of what Pat had meant to so many people, and how she came into their lives.
The stories and the photos painted a vibrant portrait of this very beautiful, very talented, very creative, very warm and very loving woman. Pat loved life. She loved and lived a creative life. She danced, she drew, she painted, she invented, she dreamed, she laughed, she cried, she loved. She was a teacher, a daughter, a wife, a friend, a colleague. She loved fashion — beautiful clothes, jewelry, and, especially, hats. Some referred to her affectionately as “Pat in the hat.”
I first came to know Pat when I began to volunteer with the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon. Pat was the creative energy behind the international dance companies that performed at the Barter Theatre during the festival. Pat herself at one time had directed a Turkish folk-dance company in New Orleans. She dearly loved all the cultures around the world, their dances and their music.
As time went by, I learned what a wonderful visual artist she was. She loved to paint or draw at live music events in the area — venues such as Machiavelli’s in Bristol, Tennessee, Heartwood in Abingdon,Virginia, The Willow Tree in Johnson City, Tennessee, and so many other places and events. She was the outreach director for a while at the William King Museum or Art in Abingdon, Virginia, and she planned and produced a fantasy festival at William King Museum of Art which was held to honor the local artist Charles Vess and the part that his artwork played in the movie “Stardust.” For many years she taught children and adult art classes at Blowfish Emporium and other places.
Folks like Pat are rare. She was such a bright spirit, so full of light. Her smile was radiant. She was graceful, lovely, fun and so talented. When she left Bristol and moved to Ohio in 2016, she was going back home, and she was going to marry the man she had come to love so very much — Tom Jordan. They had known each other since they were in grade school. They were both artists. They shared a few — too few — very happy years together. We missed her in the Tri-Cities, and we hated to see her leave the area. We miss her even more now . . . We love you, Pat.
Sandra Parker is a Bristol musician who is best known for her harp performances and her participation in Celtic and Renaissance festivals.
