Obituary for Jessie J. Govan
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day… II Timothy 4:7,8
Jessie James Govan was born on August 26, 1953 in Orangeburg, SC to Eartha Lee Govan of Brooklyn, NY and the late Sam Govan. He departed this life on September 20, 2019 in his home. He was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel (Bope) Govan, III.
Jessie attended Orangeburg High School and Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College. He was a member of the Masonic Order and was a proud veteran of the United States Army. Veterans’ Day was one of his favorite holidays. He was a true soldier in his heart!
Being a dedicated and very determined worker, Jessie worked for the US Postal Service and for numerous security companies throughout the years. He retired from the Internal Revenue Service as a facility employee. While there, he met his lovely wife, Deanna.
Throughout his various employments, he became the proud owner/proprietor of GOVAN’S CLEANING SERVICES, and with the help of his mother Eartha Lee Govan, his uncles Mack Butler and John Miller, his wife Deana and enthusiastic son, JD, the business was a blessed success! His biggest contract was with the United States Army base in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY as he provided janitorial services for the housing quarters for incoming soldiers. His weirdest contract was with a funeral home which he had no problem cleaning! Throughout the years of his great blessings from Jesus, Jessie employed several brothers in Christ to come work with him.
At an early age Jessie joined Cedar Grove AME church in Orangeburg, SC. He became a Deacon under the leadership of the late Dr. John Quincy Adams, Brooklyn. After a number of years of devoted service under Pastor Adams, Deacon Govan and his family joined the Mt. Sion Baptist Church following his friend, Rev. Dan Craig after he became pastor there.
Jessie’s proudest moment in life was watching his son Jessie (JD) excel as a professional athlete, and excel in his college academics, and he excel as a graduate from Georgetown University this past May! To make those moments more precious and blessed was for his dad to watch JD play (for just a little while) in the National Basketball Association; for the current NBA Champions—The Toronto Raptors—and then signing a contract to play professional basketball over-seas in Japan!
Those left to cherish and honor his memories are: his wife of 24 years, Deanna; one son Jessie II (JD); Mother, Eartha Lee Govan, Brooklyn; two daughters, Tasha and Tammy of Columbia, SC; six grandchildren; one great grand-child; one sister, Eartha Mae (Russell) Shuler of Cordova, SC; four brothers: Willie (Eva), Charles, Alexander (Evangelist Karen), Rev. Curtis (Jacqueline) of Grovetown, GA; three sisters –in-law: Denise Branch, Danita Branch, Delores Vaughn, all of New York; one brother-in-law, Anthony Branch of NY; one special Aunt Mary Frazier, Brooklyn, NY,
A host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jessie James Govan was born on August 26, 1953 in Orangeburg, SC to Eartha Lee Govan of Brooklyn, NY and the late Sam Govan. He departed this life on September 20, 2019 in his home. He was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel (Bope) Govan, III.
Jessie attended Orangeburg High School and Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College. He was a member of the Masonic Order and was a proud veteran of the United States Army. Veterans’ Day was one of his favorite holidays. He was a true soldier in his heart!
Being a dedicated and very determined worker, Jessie worked for the US Postal Service and for numerous security companies throughout the years. He retired from the Internal Revenue Service as a facility employee. While there, he met his lovely wife, Deanna.
Throughout his various employments, he became the proud owner/proprietor of GOVAN’S CLEANING SERVICES, and with the help of his mother Eartha Lee Govan, his uncles Mack Butler and John Miller, his wife Deana and enthusiastic son, JD, the business was a blessed success! His biggest contract was with the United States Army base in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY as he provided janitorial services for the housing quarters for incoming soldiers. His weirdest contract was with a funeral home which he had no problem cleaning! Throughout the years of his great blessings from Jesus, Jessie employed several brothers in Christ to come work with him.
At an early age Jessie joined Cedar Grove AME church in Orangeburg, SC. He became a Deacon under the leadership of the late Dr. John Quincy Adams, Brooklyn. After a number of years of devoted service under Pastor Adams, Deacon Govan and his family joined the Mt. Sion Baptist Church following his friend, Rev. Dan Craig after he became pastor there.
Jessie’s proudest moment in life was watching his son Jessie (JD) excel as a professional athlete, and excel in his college academics, and he excel as a graduate from Georgetown University this past May! To make those moments more precious and blessed was for his dad to watch JD play (for just a little while) in the National Basketball Association; for the current NBA Champions—The Toronto Raptors—and then signing a contract to play professional basketball over-seas in Japan!
Those left to cherish and honor his memories are: his wife of 24 years, Deanna; one son Jessie II (JD); Mother, Eartha Lee Govan, Brooklyn; two daughters, Tasha and Tammy of Columbia, SC; six grandchildren; one great grand-child; one sister, Eartha Mae (Russell) Shuler of Cordova, SC; four brothers: Willie (Eva), Charles, Alexander (Evangelist Karen), Rev. Curtis (Jacqueline) of Grovetown, GA; three sisters –in-law: Denise Branch, Danita Branch, Delores Vaughn, all of New York; one brother-in-law, Anthony Branch of NY; one special Aunt Mary Frazier, Brooklyn, NY,
A host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.