Jesse Dan Smith

A viewing for Jesse Smith will take place Wednesday, July 19th from 11:00AM until 2:00PM at Rose City Cemetery & Funeral Home. Prayers will be said at 11:00AM.

Jesse Dan Smith (affectionately known as J.D.) was born January 26th, 1928 to the union of Monroe Smith and Lillie E. Johnson Smith in Eufaula, Alabama. He was the second of seven children born to this union. He was raised in Chicago, Illinois where he attended Hartigan Elementary and Wendell Phillips High School. Jesse accepted Christ as his savior at an early age; at Bethelehem Baptist Church in Eufaula, Alabama. Jesse worked for the Union Pacific Railroad from 1946 until retirement. Travelling from Chicago, Illinois to Portland, Oregon, he decided to make Portland his home in 1947. He loved the City of Roses. Jesse was a quiet and loving soul. He had a positive attitude and spirit. He always saw the good in everyone. He loved to walk and meditate daily. His favorite foods were fried fish and baked sweet potatoes. As a young man he was a good billiard player and an excellent roller skater. Jesse dedicated a lot of time developing and embracing the tools and skills to engage in these joyful aspects of his life. Jesse leaves to mourn his passing a young man he raised as his own son, Harold, two of his sisters, Velma Carter of Chicago, Illinois, and Mary Miles of Atlanta, Georgia, and one brother, Monroe Smith Jr. of Chicago, Illinois. He also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews that reside in different parts of the country.