Rachel Pittman

Rachel Pittman, Age 89, of Joliet, IL departed this life on Saturday, January 8, 2022, peacefully at her home. She was born in Soso, MS on December 27, 1932 to the late Otha and Maggie Shelby (nee) McCallum.

She was an awesome basketball player in her day, and was so talented that Oak Park School recruited her from Shady Oak School in Soso, MS and she finished her high school career at Oak Park in Laurel, MS.

Rachel grew up surrounded by a large tight knit family. In later years, her brothers would all meet at her house every Sunday to laugh, talk and reminisce on the past and of course to eat. Rachel would not allow you to leave her house without a meal. Some of Rachel’s favorite things to do were watch sports and go to garage sales, anything you wanted, she had for you.

In 1965, Rachel would marry her lifelong partner, Oliver Pittman who raised and loved her two children, James and Patricia as his own. The family relocated to Joliet, IL in 1969, in search of better opportunity.

Rachel worked for several phone manufacturers including Western Electric for many years but eventually retired from Westell. Rachel was a caring person she also worked part time as a home health aid through Community Care Systems. After retiring she could never sit idle, so she took a job with Septran Bus Company as monitor which she loved to tell stories about the children she met while on the bus.

Rachel was a devoted Christian woman who would spend quiet nights in her room reading the Bible. She was a member of Second Baptist Church for over 30 years until her health began to fail.

Rachel was preceded in death by her parents, Otha and Maggie Shelby, her husband, Oliver R. Pittman, her beloved son, James R. Jones; six brothers Julius, A.C. Jimmie Dell, Roy C, James and Lynell; six sisters, Annie Lee, Jessie Lee, Lucille, Maggie, Myrtis and Creola. 

Rachel leaves to cherish precious and lasting memories to her daughter, Patricia Ann Jones who cared for her until the end; two grandsons, Enoch and Jermaine Jones; one granddaughter ,Fernita Catchings; two bonus grandsons, Robert and Torrence Ford; A very special daughter-in-law, Deborah Jones; seven great grandchildren Quintin Jr, Quinlan, Kayden, Kaylen, Madison, Jermaine Jr., Aniya; one great-great granddaughter, Amina all of Joliet, IL; two sisters, Irma Jean Knight (Delvin), Elnora Keys; one brother, Curly B “Duke” Shelby; a special niece, Lynetta “Sugar Pie” Carson and three special nephews, Ricky, Chris and Damon (Casey) Shelby; a close friend of over 70 years Annie Ruth White.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the Kidney Foundation.

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