The Randolph Society Foundation Board is pleased to announce that Jessie Lee Huffstutler, an influential musician, educator, and historian, will be inducted into the 2025 class of honorees.
Born in Chester in 1888, Jessie Lee Gant was the fourth child of Darius and Rachel Gant. She was only five years old when her father unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind a widow with four young children.
Jessie discovered early on that she had a talent for music. She began playing and singing in the choir at Chester’s First Methodist Church when she was just twelve. She was so skilled that she was hired to play piano accompaniment for silent films at the Chester Opera House. She improvised musical scores for the movies alongside her friend Elzie Segar, who played the drums. He would later use memories from their teenage days in his famous Popeye cartoons.
Jessie’s musical talents developed throughout her school years, and by the time she graduated from Chester High School in 1905, she could play multiple instruments. Her prowess caught the attention of the staff at Southern Illinois Penitentiary, who hired soon after graduation to serve as the prison’s organist. She recalled having “mixed emotions” when playing at the prison early on, but her efforts earned her the respect of the men behind bars. “From the applause I received, I knew they were now my friends and from that time, I was ‘Miss Jessie’ to them,” she later recalled.
While working as the prison’s musical director, Jessie decided to start a family of her own. She married Fred “Dick” Huffstutler in 1911, and their only child, Fred Jr., was born later that year. The family settled in Chester, where Dick worked as a signal master with the railroad, and Jessie continued to earn an income through her musical work at the prison.
Sadly, Jessie’s early married life was touched by tragedy. In the span of a decade, she lost her mother and two of her brothers. In 1924, she also had to say farewell to her husband, who died after suffering from appendicitis and typhoid fever. As a widow in her 30s, Jessie was left behind to raise her son alone. She continued to work at Menard and also began giving private voice and piano lessons to earn extra money.
When Fred graduated from high school in 1929 and enrolled at McKendree College, Jessie decided to pursue a course of higher education as well. She was hired as a house mother for one of the men’s dormitories at the college. Both mother and son finished their studies in 1933, with Fred earning a bachelor’s degree and Jessie receiving a certificate in music education.
For her next chapter, Jessie taught in public schools in Florida before returning to Illinois and teaching for many years in Du Quoin. After her retirement, she moved back to Chester, where she took on an active role in numerous local organizations, including professional women’s clubs and the retired teachers’ association. In 1960, she was recognized by the First Methodist Church in Chester for 60 years of service to the congregation.
Over the decade that followed, Jessie took time to write down her extensive memories of her long life in Chester, which were published as columns in the local newspaper. In 1976, the columns were gathered together and published as a book. I Remember—Early Memories of Chester, Illinois is a unique, valuable historical resource. The book was also a success, selling more than 1,000 copies. Jessie passed away in Chester in 1980 at the age of 92. She was survived not only by her family—a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a great-grandchild—but also by the students she mentored and encouraged in the classroom and the music room over the decades. Her desire to share her talents and knowledge with others continue stands as an example of dedication and service today.
Click here to read a more detailed biography of Jessie Lee Huffstutler.
The Randolph Society 