JESSIE M. BURROWS

BURROWS, JESSIE M. July 26,1925 to Sept. 21, 2010 Jessie May Burrows passed away on September 21, 2010 at the age of 85 after a lengthy illness. Jessie was born in Coronado, California on July 26, 1925, the seventh of eight siblings. Her parents, Walter Burrows and Kate Mercer Burrows, had immigrated to the United States from England via Canada a few years before her birth, and had settled in this small seaside community just across the bay from San Diego. Like all her brothers and sisters, Jessie attended the local Coronado schools and graduated from Coronado High School in 1942. She then continued her education at San Diego State University graduating in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Shortly after, Jessie "signed on" with the San Diego County Department of Social Services and spent the next 38 years of her professional life providing social work services to the citizens of San Diego. She did take a two-year "hiatus" from these professional duties from 1968-69 resuming her studies and attaining a MSW degree at the University of Southern California. During her official 36-year career with the County DSS, she worked as a case worker/social worker, a supervisor and a Program Manager in various departments and divisions. Even after her "official" retirement, Jessie was always willing to return to the County DSS offices to help out with temporary assignments when needed. Jessie's commitment to people extended well beyond her 5-day, 40-hour work week. She was known as a consummate volunteer and over the years she provided hands-on assistance and her planning and organizational skills to many local service organizations including the Armed Services YMCA, Association of Retarded Citizens, Special Olympics, Big Sister's League, Salvation Army, and Zonta International. Many of these groups honored Jessie for her contributions with certificates, plaques and special awards. Jessie also supported multiple social and liberal causes and was a long time member of such organizations as the National Association of Social Workers, Common Cause, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and the Southern Poverty Law Center. But despite her professional and volunteer efforts, Jessie was committed to her family. As Jessie did not have any children of her own, she joined with her sister Kay in becoming an important part of the lives of her many nieces and nephews .and in the livers of their children. Providing companionship ..exposing them to museums and art galleries, theatrical performances, outdoor activities like horse-back riding, golf, skiing, ice skating, and collegiate and professional sporting events ..opening up her great Mission Beach condo right on the bay .. even providing financial support and guidance if that was needed. Jessie was a great listener; always compassionate and understanding; and provided good advice and counsel when warranted. She also opened up her home to several Japanese young people attending school or training here in the US; these "adopted" Japanese young people and their families soon became a very important part of Jessie's life and provided her with much pride and pleasure. Jessie was a born traveler acquiring her first passport in 1970 and over the years traveled to most states in the US along with ventures to Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, England, Holland, Germany, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan (several times) and, even as recently as 2006 at the age of 81, traveled to Japan and the Republic of China. A die-hard, rabid sports fan, Jessie supported the Charges, Padres and Aztecs through thick and thin . and would never agree to leaving a game until it was officially over regardless of the score. Jessie is survived by her sister, Florence Aebischer and her brother, William Burrows along with 15 nieces and nephews; and 26 of their children. One of her sisters, Kathleen Matheny, passed away on September 28th, just seven days after Jessie. Her remaining four siblings- Walter Burrows, Percival "Red" Burrows, Winnie Rex and Betty Concannon-and a niece Sandy Brown, preceded her in death. Jessie will be missed by many. Private memorial and scattering of ashes at sea are planned.