REV. JACKSON MCKINLEY SMITH, 74, a Hingham resident for 35 years, died on Friday, May 1st, 2009 at the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth after a brief illness. Rev. Smith was born in Stillwater, Minnesota and attended Will Rogers High School, Class of 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After completing his undergraduate degree at Yale University, he went on to graduate school at Yale Divinity School. He was ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ, and has pastored at various churches including: The Hingham Congregational Church, The New North Church also in Hingham, The First Congregational Church of Concord, MA, The Congregational Church near Pennsylvania State University, and The First Congregational Church of Hyde Park. In addition, Rev. Smith was the Dean of Students at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge during the 1970's.
Rev. Smith, his wife Jane, and children Philip and Leslie came to Hingham in 1974 where he remained until his death. He was a much beloved member of the community and had very strong ties to many families throughout both Boston and the South Shore in particular. Having performed over a thousand weddings and funerals, Rev. Smith touched the hearts of many and his kindness, generosity and love of life will be missed dearly.
He leaves his son Philip M. Smith and his wife Marianne of Melrose, his daughter Leslie H. Smith of Natick and his granddaughter Zoe M. Smith of Melrose.
A Memorial Service will be conducted on Saturday, May 9th at 11 AM at the New North Church, One Lincoln St., Hingham Square. Visiting hours and flowers omitted by request. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
The interment is private.