Edmonia Chappelle Jarrett

''If thick, cloudy ribbons of cedar smoke could talk, their voices would sound a lot like Edmonia Jarrett,'' The Seattle Times wrote in 1998.

Then would come the whole performance: the directness, warmth and sincerity in her voice and gestures, the ''ebullience that reached out and brought you in,'' said jazz trumpeter Floyd Standifer Jr.

Edmonia Jarrett had a way of doing that ? both in her music and her life.

Ms. Jarrett, a fixture in the local jazz scene for the past decade, died yesterday of cancer. She was 69.

The straight-talking, warm-hearted woman had a late start in her professional singing career. Early in her life, she worked at the Pentagon and at Boeing. Then for 23 years, she worked for the Seattle School District, first as a teacher physical education and African-American history and eventually as principal of Wilson Middle School and Cleveland High School.

But always, for this woman who grew up in the South and learned singing and preaching from her grandmother, music was rooted in her soul.

''Her basis was in black church music and the blues,'' said Jim Wilke, host of KPLU-FM's ''Jazz Northwest'' and Public Radio International's ''Jazz After Hours.''

''It was rooted in genuine soul. It's not something painted on. It's built-in.''

When Ms. Jarrett retired from the Seattle School District in 1991, she decided to pursue professional singing with characteristic directness and determination.

''When she decides she wants to do something, she does it, to heck with everybody,'' said Sue Jackson, a friend and former choir mate at St. Therese Church in Madrona.

Ms. Jarrett started at local clubs, singing a few gigs.

''She had a presence about her that grabbed you by the throat and said: 'I'm going to be a singer and you're going to book me,' '' said John Dimitriou, owner of Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. ''We just paled and said: 'OK.' ''

Through the years, she developed a jazz style that reflected her direct, heartfelt personality.

''It's not terribly flowery. It's a very forthright, direct way of delivery,'' said jazz singer Greta Matassa, who performed in Tacoma last month with Ms. Jarrett.

Ms. Jarrett's music also was a reflection of her warmth and generosity ? traits that brought more than 150 people to her birthday party earlier this month.

''Probably the most striking thing to me about Edmonia and her music was the total commitment she brought to the music,'' said trumpeter Standifer, who sometimes performed with Ms. Jarrett, including a jazz-festival appearance two years ago in Turin, Italy. ''You always got the idea that not only was she enjoying the music herself, she was enjoying the fact that you were enjoying it.''

Ms. Jarrett had beaten breast cancer several years ago, but she recently faced a diagnosis of lung cancer that had spread to her brain.

She performed her last concert three days ago ? a tribute to singer Carmen McRae at the Seattle Art Museum. Though she looked frail, with short hair and dark glasses, Ms. Jarrett wore a stunning, long, silver-blue satin gown and ''she sang her heart out,'' said KPLU-FM's Wilke, who recorded the concert and will broadcast it at 4 p.m. Saturday.

''This concert was really important to her,'' Wilke said. ''She really wanted to do it.''

''The world lost a great singer, mother, friend and grandmother,'' said Ms. Jarrett's daughter, Janice Hood of Kent.

In addition to Hood, Ms. Jarrett is survived by her daughter, Teresa Williams of Seattle; sister, Dorothy Woolridge of Anderson, S.C.; and six grandchildren.

A vigil will be at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Therese Church, 3416 E. Marion St., Seattle. A funeral Mass will be at St. Therese at 10 a.m. Saturday.