Mrs. Jettie Caffey

Jettie Caffey, called Pat by her immediate family, was born in Bolingbrook, Alabama, on March 13, 1926. She grew up 60 miles north west of Mobile and Campbell, Alabama. She was the seventh of 11 children, born to Coley and Nettie Marie Kilpatrick. Her parents, husband Ollius Sr., seven siblings and her youngest son Ollius Jr. proceeded her death. As a young girl, she enjoyed the chores of the country south. This came in handy, as when her mother died, she was 13 and the oldest sibling at home. When her father died, she left the farm and started her secular career at the shipping docks in the city of Mobile, Alabama. Then her siblings convinced her to come to the Delta in the state of Mississippi. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Ollius Caffey. In 1948, they moved to Chicago, and it was here they raised their three children Dorothy, Rory, and Ollius Jr. Jettie worked a variety of jobs while raising her family. She worked at a cookie factory, a soap factory, and even made oxygen tents for hospitals. She was known as an excellent and very diligent worker. It was these qualities that the local precinct captain admired. He relied heavily on her to ‘get out the vote’ in the area. In 1960, she received the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom” from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. When she read the booklet, she stated “uhh oh, I’m working for the wrong government! She then felt obligated to tell others about what she had learned from God‘s word, the Bible. However, she stated “I will never go from door to door preaching to nobody!” But as we all know, she proved to be like the prophet Jeremiah who said; “…But in my heart, it became like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was tired of holding it in; I could no longer ensure it.”— Jeremiah 20:9. Finally on January 9, 1971, Jettie, along with her husband, were baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She served as a full-time preacher of the good news for many years, until health problems prevented her. However in 2016, she startedz’ pioneering’ again at the age of 90! To say that she loved the preaching work would be an understatement. Once when a convention let out at the then ‘White Sox’ Park, she was boarding the CTA train home when one of the passengers asked “who won the game?” Her answer, “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” She aided 22 people to serve Jehovah and assisted several ones to restore their relationship with Jehovah, some of whom remained at her best friends to her death! She recently stated it was impossible to know how many people she conducted Bible studies with, but may be about 100! Once she studied the Bible with a young girl, but there didn’t seem to be much progress. However, years later, she received a call from her saying: “Ms. Caffey, I just wanted you to know that the time you spent with me was not wasted. I am now your spiritual sister!” When driving through the territory in Robbins, IL, you could hardly pass a street without her having Study with someone who lives nearby. She’ll have to preach about God‘s kingdom as the only cure for mankind‘s problems using Matthew 6:9, 10, ascertain scripture. Jettie will be remembered for her straightforwardness, her hospitality, her love Bible games, quizzes, and poems. Often, she would challenge you to name the 12 sons of Israel or 12 apostles in alphabetical order. Many of you enjoyed when she hosted her monthly “hospitality”gatherings where she would play Bible games and quizzes, along with plenty of tasty food and wholesome association. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, she still had her gatherings on Zoom. And just prior to taking sick on October 31, she was planning her first in person gathering in several years it was to be held November 19, 2022! She loved yardwork and gardening, working her plants until just last year. She really enjoyed watching and feeding birds and could name many species. She also enjoyed reading novels, reserving books at the library, sometimes four at a time well into Her 90’s. She worked crossword and find word puzzles. But more importantly, she loved studying in the Bible and sharing it with others. While in the hospital the last days of her life, she offered and placed literature with six of the staff caring for her. Jettie fell asleep on November 4, 2022. She leaves to cherish her memory her sisters: Bernice Robinson and Tossie Wilburn; her children: Dorothy Jean (Clayborn – deceased) Fields and Rory D. (Sheila) Caffey; grandchildren: Darvette M. Middleton, Fontaine H. Middleton, Jettie M. Middleton, Ree’Mar Middleton, Durrell L. Middleton, Fields III, and Thomas O. Caffey; great-grandchildren: call Keenan N. Kelly, KyRee A. Kelly, Amber M. Kelly, Raphael H. Ernest, Gavin L. Carter, Dorinda T. Middleton, Jasmine S. Middleton, Marcus I. Middleton, Paula & Algenis, Dionte T. Fields, Taylor N. Fields, Levon Fields, Aiden & Addison Caffee; great-great grand children: Jasmine, Sir Dae, Vion, Austin, A’Brea, Zurich, Jeremiah, and Julian; close nieces: Dora Smith & Shirley Johnson; as well as many other relatives and spiritual family.

Tributes

Mrs. Jettie Caffey

March 13, 1936 - November 4, 2022