Jessie Waddles

Jesse (OD) Waddles III was born in Upton, Texas August 26, 1922 to the late Jesse Waddles II and Elizabeth Foster (Oliver).  The OD was to distinguish him from his Grandfather and Father, who were also named Jesse.  The family worked picking cotton and fruit across the state of Texas and eventually moved from a farm in Austin to Abilene, Texas. He was the eldest of three boys.  Jesse told his Mother that he wanted to work, so his education stopped in the 6th grade.

In 1942, Jessie married Novella Owens of Austin, Texas and had seven (7) children, moving his family to Albuquerque in 1947.  He later married Sarah Chiles Banks in1964.

Jessie built a dry cleaning business which was located next to his home on South Broadway; owned a janitorial business in the early 50’s while working at Sandia Laboratories, where he retired with 35 years of services; had janitorial contracts with the New Mexico State Fair and the FAA over 40 years; and opened his own car detail shop on Yale at Cesar Chavez and would detail rental cars for all the rental car companies.  His last job was at the Albuquerque Sunport Airport where he transported people in wheelchairs and helped them with their luggage for over 20 years. 

At one point it is estimated that Jesse owned over 60 houses in the Albuquerque area, his first venture into owning rental property was when his grandfather built two homes behind the family home on Broadway SE and then he bought property in the Kirtland addition.  Jesse loved helping people gave them jobs, provided resources to help people cash checks on Sundays and was the “go to person” in the community.  Although barely able to read or write, he used his hands and his head to build a small fortune over the years.  He was named the first Black Millionaire in 1978 in the State of New Mexico.

Jesse was a faithful member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church since 1947.  He was a member of the NM Prince Hall Grand Lodge (possibly the oldest Mason in the City of Albuquerque); July 2019, the Masons bestowed the honor of Honorary Past Grand Master; Luxor Temple #202 Shriners where he was an honorary Past Potentate; a long-time member of the Navajo Elks Lodge since 1961, serving as Emeritus Trustee and helped to keep it financially stable; member of the NAACP, where he worked with the late Alice Hoppes; and an original member of the African American Day Committee, currently known as the African American Legislative Day Council. 

Jesse was preceded in death by his parents; wives Novella Owens and Sarah Chiles Banks; brothers, Ralph and George, Joe and his sister Carolyn; sons, Jesse Jr. and Barry; and special friend, George “Smokey” Williams.

Jesse leaves a great legacy for his children James L., Gloria, Diana, Donald, and Cheryl to cherish his memory.  He is also survived by 20 Grandchildren, 50 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great, Great Grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.  

Jesse was 1 in a million and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and the community at large.

Rest In Peace, Jesse