Jessie A. Smith, 98, of Somerville, passed away on March 10, 2026. Born in Newark, she spent much of her youth in Blackwells Mills near East Millstone. A 1946 graduate of Somerville High School, she married Kenneth Smith in 1950 and lived for many years in Bridgewater before moving to Somerville, where she made her home with her daughter Susan.
Jessie was known for her remarkable cooking and baking talents. She was especially celebrated for her homemade chocolate candies, assorted cookies, and the many wedding cakes she created. She compiled her favorite recipes into a cookbook in the early 2000s titled “Jessie’s Kitchen,” which included dishes from her childhood 4-H group. A lifelong lover of music, she served as lead soprano at the East Millstone United Methodist Church and later became its choir director and organist.
She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Smith, her daughter, Susan Smith, and her sibling, Jessie Smith Allan. Jessie is survived by her son, Kenneth Smith and his wife Mary, and her brother, James Allan.
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