- Date Of Birth: February 8, 2912
- Date Of Death: December 11, 2010
- State: Illinois
Jessie Frances Ham, 98, of Chambersburg, died Saturday, December 11, 2010, at Barton W. Stone Home in Jacksonville.
She was born February 8, 1912, in Chambersburg, the oldest daughter of Russell and Nellie Wade Smith. She married Felix Clay Ham on May 18, 1930, and he preceded her in death on January 1, 1981.
She is survived by one son, Roger (wife, Beverly) Ham of Chambersburg; a daughter-in-law, Virginia Trusty of Moberly, MO; five grandchildren, Debra Zuleger of Moberly, MO, Richard (wife, Maureen) Ham of Lowell, MA, Clay (wife, Diane) Ham of Lincoln, Ray (wife, Cristie) Ham of Morton, and Susan (husband, Eric) MacDonald of Blue Springs, MO; fourteen great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Gary Ham; one grandson, Robert Ham; one great-grandson at birth, Adam Ham; one brother, Russell Smith, as a child; and one sister, Margaret Smith Brown and her husband, Harry Brown.
Mrs. Ham was a 1930 graduate of Chambersburg High School. She was a member of the Chambersburg Christian Church and a member of the Senior Saints. She was a stay-at-home mother until her sons were grown. She later worked at the Chambersburg Telephone Office, the Chambersburg Post Office, The Meredosia Budget, and retired as a clothing aide from the Jacksonville Developmental Center.
Jessie enjoyed singing and did so for many funerals and at church. She wrote a weekly article for the local paper called “News From the Burg”. She collected and wrote history about Chambersburg, some of which was put into books. She embroidered many dish towels which she shared with family and friends.
