Obituaries

He ARRIVED…Bro. Jessie James Blakely, Jr., known to everyone as “J.B.”, born on January 27, 1942, in Helena, Arkansas, was the fifth child of 13 born to Jessie Blakely, Sr. and Isabel Grant Blakely-Orange.

He LEARNED…Jessie was a lifelong resident of Helena-West Helena, and a lifelong member of the New Light M. B. Church.  He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized by Rev. E.E. Franklin at a young age. He attended school in the Helena-West Helena School District, and graduated in the Eliza Miller Class of 1959.  He graduated from trade school and became a master craftsman in HVAC servicing.  He later attended the Arkansas Police Academy in Camden, Arkansas. He joined the West Helena Police Department’s Auxiliary Department in 1965, and rose to the rank of Captain.  He retired from the police department and joined the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department in 1990. He remained an active member of the Sheriff’s department until his health began to fail, but was always a constant support and consultant for the department.

He BUILT…J.B. will be remembered as the owner and operator of J. B.’s Spirit Shop in Helena.  J.B’s was the epicenter of action in Helena.  Opening in 1977, he owned and operated this business for 40 years.  He closed the doors and retired in September of 2017.

On September 2, 1962, in the parsonage of New Light M.B. Church, he was united in holy matrimony to Cora Lee Jones.  To this union of 60 years, two daughters were born, Adrian Yvette Blakely Yarbrough and Alysia Yvette Blakely.

He LAUGHED…Whether you called him Jessie, JB, Jess, Mr. Jessie, Mr. JB, Mr. Blakely or Uncle Jessie, you were in for a real treat when you were in his company.  For as tough as he was, he was equally sensitive and caring.  He would look out for others and help where he was needed.  He lived for working in the store, working in the church, riding his motorcycle, barbequing, and telling everybody what to do.  He was a pillar of the community and a very visible and imposing figure of the auxiliary police force and sheriff’s department.

He was REUNITED…On Friday, December 2, 2022, at 10:02 AM., while as a patient at the VITAS Hospice Unit of the Carrollton Regional Medical Center in Dallas, TX, J.B. transitioned to be with our heavenly father.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie Blakely, Sr. and Isabell Orange. His brothers, James Blakely, Jerry Jones, Charles Orange, and Peter Jones. His sisters, Florence Blakely Taylor and Pearlean Blakely Britton.  In-laws, Aonie and Emma Lue Jones, Sylvester Taylor, Aonie Jr. and Elizabeth Jones, Earl and Dollie Gilcrest, Earnest McGinister, Sr., Murry and Mollie Johnson, Osley Cook, Sr., and Thomas Phillips.

He LOVED…left to cherish his memories, the apple of his eye and love of his life, his wife of 60 years, Cora Jones Blakely. His two heartbeats, his daughters, Adrian Yarbrough and Alysia Blakely all of Helena-West Helena. His favorite granddaughter, Emily Symmone Yarbrough of Dallas, TX, and favorite grandson, Christian Blake Yarbrough of Madison, AL.  His adorable great-granddaughter, Christina Yarbrough of Elaine, AR. His sisters, Rosie Lee Ward of West Helena, AR, Asalean Boyd of Searcy, AR, Darlene Austin of Winston-Salem, NC, Flowrean Orange of Minneapolis, MN, Dorothy Blakely Rainey and Queen Ester Blakely of Chicago, IL. His brothers, Harry Orange (Lillie) of Atlanta, GA, Harvey Orange (Dorothy) of Memphis, TN, Lonnie Blakely and Terry Blakely of Chicago, IL. His sisters-in-law, Erie Blakely of Little Rock, AR, Earline McGinister of West Helena, AR, Era Jean Cook of Dallas, TX, and Vera Phillips of Overland Park, KS. His only living aunt, Rev. Dr. Willa Grant Battle of Minneapolis, MN. A host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.