Josephine Pratt

Josephine Anderson Pratt was born January 9, 1929, in Vardaman, Mississippi, to Christian Walter Anderson and Hattie Hollins. Her mother died when she was three, and she was raised by her father and cousin/stepmother, Mary Helen Hollins Anderson, alongside her younger brother, Preston Anderson, in Woodland, Mississippi.

As a young woman, Josephine enjoyed spending time with her parents, brother, family, and community at Poplar Springs Baptist Church. At home, she was a good gardener and helped with annual harvests, especially favoring fresh butter beans and okra yields. It was here in Woodland that she was introduced to her beloved, Jimmie Lee Pratt of Mantee, Mississippi. Jimmie Lee and Josephine married in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, on November 13, 1951, and began their home life together. They would have their first three children, Dorothy Rae, Sandra Lynn, and Walter Leon, before moving to Bakersfield, California, in late 1957. 

Upon arriving in Bakersfield, Josephine and her family settled into their new lives, welcomed by other family members who had also migrated from Mississippi. Josephine’s knowledge of plants and gardening led her to dedicate time daily after work to attend to various fruit trees and vegetable gardens she and her husband created in their backyard. Josephine and Jimmie Lee enjoyed canning and preserving their garden harvest, including her favorite - peaches, tomatoes, figs, and making “pepper sauce”. She was a resourceful woman.  

In Bakersfield, Josephine and Jimmie Lee welcomed their fourth and fifth children, Jimmie Lee Jr. and Mary Dolores, to their loving family. Josephine and Jimmie Lee were dedicated members of St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church, now St. Peter RCCM. After her children grew up, Josephine began working as a caretaker (homes, the elderly), a school aide for Bessie Owens Elementary School, working in the cafeteria and a school yard monitor during and after school. She was adored by many students and staff members, regularly being met with big hugs and excited greetings during and outside of school - being known by the students as “Grandma”. Josephine was also well known by family and friends as “Snook”, “Aunt Joe”, “Cousin Joe”, and “Granni-Gran”.

During the early to mid 1970’s, Josephine, Jimmie Lee and granddaughter TyRaesha frequently traveled to her homeplace in Mississippi to visit her mother (Mary Helen) and uncle (Ocie). Josephine and Jimmie helped with the seasonal gardening, feeding livestock, farming and preparing food & smoked/cured meat for the winter months. Then later in her life, after the passing of her dear husband, she split her time between Bakersfield and Mississippi. Her last years were spent with her caring family, filled with love, laughter and delicious home-cooked meals. She went on her first and only, highly anticipated Family Caribbean Cruise in August 2013 and tried not to miss a thing!

Josephine is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Preston Anderson, husband Jimmie Lee Pratt, Sr., eldest son Walton Leon Pratt, and sister Clytee Conway. She is survived by her children, Dorothy Rae Morgan (Morris), Sandra Lynn Hunt, Jimme Lee Pratt Jr., (Debbie), Mary Dolores Martinez, grandchildren TyRaesha Littlejohn, Bobby Jenkins, Morris Morgan, Jr., Douglas Morgan, Nyeisha Smith, Rakasha Mixon, Aurana Hill, Jazmin Mora, Brittany Pratt, Cornelius Dubose, La’Preshia Mixon, E’Darius Davidson, Chyna Davidson, Simone Pratt, Shaquille Massey, Jakaejsha Martinez, Ambernaye Pratt, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter, brother-in-law Frank White, daughter-in-law Dianne Murray, and a host of nieces and nephews.