The Ledger

By Becky Holland

Some people just know who they were created to be.

For Jessica Boatright, that calling has always been clear.

“I’ve always been a mom,” she said with a laugh.

Boatright, 40, a Bleckley County High School graduate (Class of 2004), is a stay-at-home mom of five, a devoted wife, and a familiar face at Royals baseball games. But long before she was cheering from the stands or organizing behind the scenes, her nurturing spirit was already on full display.

As the oldest child—and grandchild—Jessica naturally stepped into the role of caretaker early in life.

“When my sister was born on my third birthday, they said she was born with two moms,” she said.

One of her earliest memories tells the story best. When her baby sister began crying in her bassinet, three -year-old Jessica didn’t wait for help. She scooped her up and carried her across the house.

“Heavy, Momma… heavy,” she remembered, smiling.

Raised in a loving and nurturing home, Jessica was taught not only how to care deeply—but also how to stand up for herself and others. That balance of compassion and strength still defines her today.

Though she once dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, life had a different plan.

“I didn’t become a pediatrician,” she said. “But I married one.”

More than anything, Jessica believes she was simply born to be a mother.

And not just to her own children.

When her son Walker began playing baseball his freshman year, Jessica noticed something: one booster club mom was carrying a heavy load.

So she stepped in.

Year by year, she became more involved—until the players themselves became something more than just teammates.

“They’re my baseball babies,” she said.

With Walker graduating this year, some of those same players have wondered what they will do without her.

“I’m not going to abandon them,” Jessica said. “They’re my babies too. I’ll still be out there watching them play.”

Though others describe her as a “good human,” Jessica shies away from attention.

“I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay,” she said. “When I love, I love hard.”

That love—fierce, loyal, and unwavering—is rooted in something deeper.

Her faith.

A member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Jessica grew up in both Baptist and Pentecostal traditions. But like many, her walk with God has not been without challenges.

During COVID, she faced one of the lowest points of her life.

“It knocked me straight off my feet,” she said. “Mentally, I was not good. I just couldn’t stand myself, my home, or anywhere for that matter. Life was really hard.”

Her family had stopped going to church before the pandemic—but in that difficult season, Jessica knew what she needed.

“I knew I had to get Jesus back in my life.”

They returned to church, and slowly, things began to come back together.

Her faith deepened even more during another major life change—leaving behind the home and neighborhood she loved to move to a farm, something her husband had always wanted.

“I prayed that God would make the transition so easy I couldn’t say no,” she said.

And He did.

Starting over at 40—with five children, a new home, and a completely different lifestyle—was never part of her plan.

“But I trusted God,” she said.

Today, the Boatright family is not only settled—but thriving.

“We are happy and healthy and together,” she said.

And what once felt like a leap of faith now clearly holds purpose. When her sister’s family faced illness and needed to return to Georgia, Jessica’s new life made room for them—literally.

Now living just steps away, their families share life side by side.

Jessica laughs when she describes it.

“We’ve got about ten kids, goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks… and a bunch of cats that just keep showing up,” she said. “Oh—and four dogs. It’s a funny farm.”

Through it all, her faith remains her foundation.

“Without God, nothing is possible,” she said. “God is the goodness in our lives… without Him, there is none.”

When asked what advice she would give her younger self, her answer is simple:

“Read your Bible, pray every day, and take advice from God—not the world.”

It’s a perspective she continues to grow into—one rooted in courage, obedience, and trust.

Recently, Jessica came across a message that has stayed with her—one she now tries to live by:

Be an Esther.

Stand up for what’s right, even when your voice shakes. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing to speak anyway. Your voice carries weight, your presence has purpose, and sometimes God will place you in rooms where you feel alone because you are the one who is meant to make the difference.

And in many ways, that’s exactly how Jessica Boatright lives her life—loving deeply, standing firmly, and trusting that God is working in every step.