Vincent Harris Jameson, Sr., 87, of La Plata (Marshalls Corner), Maryland.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  Psalms 8:3-4

The Life and Legacy of Vincent Harris Jameson, Sr.

Vincent Harris Jameson was the oldest son and third child of sixteen children, born to Margaret Mary (Bush) Jamieson and Harris Samuel Jamieson, on Thursday, February 1, 1934, in Port Tobacco, Maryland  He was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. Ignatius Catholic Church at St. Thomas Manor, Chapel Point, Maryland and was a parishioner of St. Ignatius until his immediate family joined other Jameson family members to build St. Catherine's of Alexandria Catholic Church in McConchie, Maryland and ultimately became active parishioners.  It was at St. Catherine's that Vincent became an Alter Boy serving faithfully even after reaching adulthood.

Vincent grew up and attended the one room school in Port Tobacco, Maryland and Bel Alton High School, Bel Alton, Maryland.  At the age of 20 he was inducted into the United States Army on January 26, 1954 in Alexandria, Virginia and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on January 18, 1956 at Fort Dix, New Jersey as a Specialist 3 (T). Vincent also attended Veterans Armstrong School where he studied masonry receiving a diploma upon completion.

On Saturday, August 22, 1959, at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Indian Head, Maryland, Vincent married the love of his life, Barbara Ann Carter.  On July 10, 1960, they became the proud parents of Tanja Vevette Jameson "Tanny" and nine years later on November 4, 1969, they welcomed their son, Vincent Harris Jameson, Jr. "VJ".  Vincent was very proud of his family and dearly loved his mother and father-in-law, Keith and Helen Carter. They too treasured their son-in-law and thought he was the "rock."

Vincent was no stranger to hard work; he spent his life working "hard," however, he enjoyed doing the work and the people with whom he worked.  He was a man of many talents to include cooking, masonry, raising tobacco and farming to include raising pigs. His cooking talent was instrumental in him securing his career at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. Ironically, he never cooked a single meal at home.  Vincent was considered an essential employee, as the patients had to be fed.  Like the postal service, snow nor rain, nor heat or gloom of night kept him from going to work. He never missed a day. Even when it would be a blizzard, he would simply throw some cinder blocks on the back of his truck and away he would go at 4:30am.  Vincent was always on the job. However, in later years he would joke about how much he ate on the job while he was "working!"

Always the entrepreneur, Vincent use to pick bushels of kale and sell it to his co-workers at St. Elizabeth's Hospital.  He would sometime solicit the help (they didn't have a choice) of his school age daughter, niece and nephew.  To be fair, he always sold their little bit of kale and gave them the money.  Having the required age, he took an early retirement from St. Elizabeth's after 28 years of dedicated service as Head Cook.

Raising tobacco was a family affair with the Jamieson men.  Vincent, ever the shrewd businessman, would always secure his tobacco price before the tobacco auction ever began because he made sure to know the buyers and take them some of that great bar-b-que to sweeten the deal.   While working a full-time job, raising tobacco, building his family's home and helping his brothers build their homes and farming, Vincent started cooking bar-b-que on the weekends at Murphy's Store in Port Tobacco, Maryland with his good friend from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Numa Sylvie, affectionately known as the "Indian Man."  In 1989, he established T & J Bar-B-Que Pit in Marshalls Corner, Maryland, where he was known as the "Fat Cook with the Short Finger." He obtained that dubious nickname because one day while in the field working with a corn picker his glove got caught in the picker.  It was only by the grace of God that he only lost part of his finger.  All could see that he was a big man and he certainly had a short finger (the one lost in the farming accident)!  Hence, "the Fat Cook with the Short Finger."

He was also a wiz at math.  He could give you the total of an order as soon as the last word was spoken. He never used a calculator or cash register.  He could also tell you what his profit margin was going to be just by looking at what his supply bill was.  Even with limited formal education, he was the ultimate business man.  When one of his meat suppliers that he had used for years refused to give him the deal he wanted (it was over the price of pork chops), he cut them off and made the deal with another supplier and never looked back.  He believed in paying his bills on time and in full and never paid interest. The credit card company hated that!

After many years of serving the public at the "Pit," it was a proud moment for him to pass the reins of his business to the capable hands of his son, "VJ," and T & J Bar B Que Pit, 2 ^nd Generation, Inc. was born.

Vincent not only served his community with the best Bar-B-Que in the County, he was also very proud to have served on the Civilian Review Board for promotions for the Charles County Sheriffs office. Equality as important was his chauffeur job picking up his grandson, Vincent III aka "Dukey Duke" from Elementary School.

All work and no play was definitely not Vincent, he enjoyed traveling, going to the horse races at Rosecroft Racetrack with his buddy, James Rosier, playing cards, playing the lottery (pet numbers 932 and 4141) and watching the local news.

He especially loved spending time with his family and doled out the $5 bills to the grandchildren whenever he saw them.  He never could remember their names and called them by something he made up.  He named his great granddaughter, Kamiya, "Fuzzy Head."

He also enjoyed the time he spent hanging out with his buddies at Murphy's Store.  Among his special friends was his "adopted" son and riding partner, Johnny Pickeral, "Big Johnny."  Together they would ride through Charles and the surrounding counties, checking out every new food establishment. Not to be forgotten is Moe Barnes, Michael Williams and the rest of the crew from Murphy's who made it a point to look out for Vincent when he would hang out with them.  He was given the nickname "Big Daddy." He enjoyed his time with the Port Tobacco crew and they all became his extended family.

Vincent always knew how to make money!  In addition to everything else he did, he was also a landlord to his tenants, the Knott family.  He use to "shoot the jive" with them as they were also his helpers stripping tobacco.  He had a soft spot for the Knott children and often brought them candy and other goodies.

Vincent had one of those personalities that drew you to him but he also had his beautiful white hair that made you want to run your hands through it.  As part of his official greeting, every family member that visited would make a bee line to him to rub his hair and it was still being rubbed to the very end.

Vincent was a big supporter of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A.  When his sister, Margaret was alive, he would regularly call her to check out what was going on at the funeral home and to see who had died.  He continued that tradition even after she went to glory by calling his daughter who began to work at the funeral home after his sister transitioned.  He would either call or stop by often leaving his truck door open and sometimes running when he visited.  It should come as no surprise that Vincent subscribed to the Maryland Independent simply to read the Obituary section.

In his retirement years, you could find Vincent, along with his wife, Barbara sitting on the front porch watching the planes fly over and trying to guess their landing destination, National, BWI or Dulles Airports and watching the cars wiz by often tooting their horn and waving.  As Vincent's health began to diminish, Barbara made sure to keep him active, often riding him around in her van, looking at the water, people watching or going to the casino. Of course they would stop for the occasional chicken tender!

Vincent had quite a sense of humor and quick wit.  He would often respond to people when asked how he was doing, "I don't have an ache or a pain, I'm just stumbling around" or "It's your world, I just live in it."  As for the bar-b-que pit, he will be remembered as a kind and generous man sometimes giving away as much food as he sold.  He never turned away a customer who lacked the necessary funds to make a purchase.  His customers were from far and near often still standing in line at 9pm to get some of those great ribs.

In addition to "Big Daddy," he was also known as "PopPop," "The Fat Cook," "Vince," and more recently, "Boobie Head," and "Buddy."

Vincent was a great man who was loved by all and respected by his community.  He NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING! He has left a great legacy for his family.

Taking his time and in communication with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Vincent transitioned to live eternally in his heavenly home, early, Wednesday morning, June 23, 2021. He joins in glory his parents, Harris and Margaret Jamieson; two still born siblings, sisters, Anita Jamieson, Margaret Thornton, Theresa Quarles, Evelyn Jamieson and Juanita Yates; brothers, Joseph "Melvin" Jamieson, Henry Jamieson and Charles "Bernard" Jamieson; nephews and nieces, Joseph Jamieson, Jr., Randolph Jamieson, Christopher Jamieson, Judy Quarles and Kimberly Jamieson Walker; great nieces, Sky Gray and Kendra Harley; mother and father-in-law, Keith and Helen Carter; sisters-in-law, Brenda Jamieson, Marilyn Rotan, Elizabeth "Betty" Carter, Mildred Carter Warren and Lorraine "Piney" Carter Gray; brothers-in-law, Benjamin, Kenneth and Carl Carter, Thomas Marbury, James Rotan, Numa Sylvie and Augustus Proctor, Sr.

Vincent leaves to cherish loving memories, his wife of 61 years, Barbara Ann Jameson, daughter, Tanja "Tanny" Jameson Carter (Harry, Jr.), son, Vincent H. Jameson, Jr. "VJ," six grandchildren, Harry L. Carter, III (Mana), twins, Tameka and Takecia Jameson, Aniyah Carter, Kandes Carter (fiancé Shane), Vincent H. Jameson, III "Lil V" and his mother, Juanita Scott; five great grandchildren, Kamiya, Kameron, Darius "Poppa," Cameron and Caleb; three sisters, Delores Jamieson, Louise "Bernadette" Proctor and Patricia "Pattie" Hart (Randolph "Jeremiah" J. Hart, Jr.); two brothers, George S. Jamieson (Faye) and Francis X. Jamieson (Phillipa); sisters-in-law, Joann and Marlene Jamieson and Madeline "Tat" Marbury Sylvie; brothers-in-law, Leon Thornton and Joseph A, Yates, Sr., goddaughter, Denise "Nene" Hargrove, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, great great nieces and great great nephews, cousins and friends.

Viewing: Friday, July 2, 2021, 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm and Saturday, July 3, 2021, 10:00 am, until time of Service, 11:00 am, in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.

Interment, St. Catherine's Catholic Church Cemetery, 7865 Port Tobacco Road, McConchie, Maryland 20677.

On July 3, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., please click on the link below to live stream the service.

Please make sure when viewing the services that the volume located in the right lower corner (where it says "live") on the viewing screen is turned up (the bars should be blue).

The streaming will begin after the final family viewing.  Therefore, there may be a delay before the service appears on the screen. Thank you.

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream