Barton-Fields-Thompson Family Blog

Jessica grew up in Waldorf, Maryland with her parents, Gary and Beverly, and two siblings, Mallory and Aaron. She was born in Alabama, where her parents are originally from. Jessica graduated from the American University in May of 2005 with bachelor degrees in Political Science and Economics. She is a new resident of Prince Georges County, MD. She also just began a new career as a Contract Specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration in September of 2006.

Willie was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. His parents, David (step-father) and Catherine, have been a tremendous support throughout his relationship with Jessica, and continue to be during their engagement. He has two older sisters, Ericka and Theresa, and two younger brothers, Thomas and Nicholas. Willie also has three sisters - Carmen, Camille and Cherrie - by his biological father, Willie, Sr. Willie recently received his Associate’s degree in Computer Information Systems in June of 2007 from Prince George’s Community College. Willie also began a new career as a Senior Help Desk Associate with Plexus Scientific Corporation in February of 2006.

Willie and Jessica met each other for the first time at Top Hat Que Club and Billiards Hall in Joppa, Maryland in February of 2004. Willie was an undergraduate student at Towson University and Jessica was an undergraduate student at American University.
Jessica: “I was not especially attracted to Willie when I first met him. I thought he was short, and he didn’t talk very much. But since the first day we met, there was just something about him that attracted me to him.”
Willie: “I thought she was pretty and intelligent but maybe not my type because I’m a city boy (Washington, D.C native) and she’s from the suburbs (Waldorf , MD). I felt that she may not have been able to relate to me.”

Willie knew that he wanted to marry Jessica in September of 2005. They had been apart for one year, but during that time, Jessica gave her life and Willie rededicated his life to Christ. They believe that it is because of their decision to give both their lives and their relationship to Christ, that God has allowed them to enter into a marriage covenant together.

Willie proposed to Jessica on December 25, 2006. On Christmas Day, we spent the morning at Willie’s parents house exchanging gifts. After all of the gifts had been handed out, Willie pretended to go to the restroom. Once behind closed doors, he slipped the ring box containing Jessica’s engagement ring out of his pocket and hid it in the palm of his hand. He hurried over to the Christmas tree and pretended to look for more gifts. Then he said, “Looks like that’s it…but hold on, there is one more gift. It says, to Jessica from Willie.” Willie quickly turned around to face Jessica, and on his knees, he asked her, “will you marry me?” She then replied, “Are you serious”, and then she said, “Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”. Jessica ran into Willie’s arms and gave him a big, long hug before he placed the engagement ring on her left ring finger.

The wedding ceremony will be informal, in the presence of our closest family and friends at the First Baptist Church of Highland Park, a historically black church located in Landover, Maryland. The reception will follow at the Greater Waldorf Jaycee Foundation in Waldorf, Maryland, the bride’s hometown. We chose red, white, and gold for our wedding colors. Red reminds us of the Blood that Jesus has shed for us. He died for all of our sins so that we may be with God in heaven. White reminds us of our souls when we are clean from the blackness of sin. Purity! Gold reminds us of heaven, God’s home, where God wants us to be with Him when we die. We are God’s royalty through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Something else unique about our wedding is that our entire wedding party is composed of our relatives (brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and Willie’s daughter, Taelor.)

CONTACT US:

Jessica Hamilton
jessbelon18@yahoo.com

Willie J. Sanders, Jr.
kupid299@hotmail.com