Jessie Naomi Allen

Jessie Naomi Allen was born on March 13, 1927, in Cheapside, Texas to the late I. G. Smith Sr. and Sylverta Cook Smith. She was the oldest child of this union. Jessie attended school in Cheapside and received a lot of her education from her teacher Ms. Mildred in the country and at Cuero High School. Around the age of 16, she moved to San Antonio and attended school St. Peter Claver.

She accepted Christ at an early age in the country and after moving to San Antonio, she became a member of Shiloh Baptist Church around the age of 17. She actively participated in the choir during those early years.

Jessie attended Hicks Beauty School and graduated as a licensed beautician. Although she did not have a beauty shop, she pressed and curled a lot of hair back in the day.

Jessie married John C. Washington, Sr. and to this union four children were born, Paul, Juanita, Louis and Beverly and raised two stepsons, John, Jr. and Irving. Jessie and John had a few entrepreneurial adventures during their marriage including a restaurant and gas station.
Later years, she married Sherman (Bill) Allen and welcomed his two sons, Willie and Keith, as her stepsons.

Jessie always had a great smile and enjoyed helping people, old and young. She loved children and loved teaching them how to cook. Holidays were always a special time to enjoy that cooking and learning her “sprinkle of this” and “pinch of that recipes”.

Jessie was proceeded in death by her husband, Sherman (Bill) Allen; son, Louis Anthony Washington; parents, I. G. Smith Sr. and Sylverta Cook Smith; her sisters: Imogene Giles, Marie Holmes and Myrtle Johnson; and brothers: I. G. Smith Jr., Milton Smith, James Ray Smith, and Otis T. Smith Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memories her son Paul Washington, daughters Juanita(William) Taylor, Beverly(Michael) Shepherd; sister, Willie B. Smith all of San Antonio, Texas; stepsons John Washington Jr. and Willie Allen, and daughter in-law Bettie Washington and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who will forever remember her smile and warm embrace.