Jesse Adam Smith

Jesse Adam Smith of Wilmington, North Carolina passed away unexpectedly Friday March 21, 2025 after a brief illness. Jesse was born December 1, 1963 to Dan Smith and Janice Pate Smith of Goldsboro, NC.

Jesse is survived by his father, but his beloved mother, Janice, passed away hours after him. There will be a joint service and burial to reunite mother and son. 

Jesse was a proud father to his children, Lillian Pate Smith, a recent UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and Brody McNeill Smith, a freshman at NC State University that he shared with their mother, Layne McNeill Smith, all of Wrightsville Beach, NC.  Jesse is also survived by his sister Dawn Kegerreis, husband Mike, their children Caitlin, Matthew and Chris and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins spread across Southeastern North Carolina. 

Jesse attended Edgecombe County Schools and was a 1982 graduate of Rocky Mount High School. He was the MVP of the wrestling team his senior year as a Gryphon. After high school, Jesse attended UNC-Wilmington where he became a member of an amazing group of friends and UNC-W basketball enthusiasts, “The Grubs “. 

Jesse worked in NC Film Production in the Transportation Department for 40 years beginning with some of the earliest productions in the Wilmington area in the Eighties. Jesse amassed a large movie production family, working on over 70 movies and shows and was a proud NC Film supporter. 

Jesse enjoyed golfing, especially his annual golf trips with The Grubs, fishing, boating and watching reruns of his favorite TV show, Andy Griffith. He was a loyal friend to many including his best friend, Ken Wilson and his long-time neighbors, Stan and Nikki Johnson. 

Jesse’s service and burial will be held jointly with his mother's on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Hood Swamp Friends Church located at 710 Hood Swamp Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534. After the joint service, Jesse and his mother will be buried in the Smith Family Cemetery located at 605 Hood Swamp Rd. Goldsboro, NC 27534.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Jesse Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel, 1617 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. Following the service, the family will receive friends at Ironclad Brewery at 115 N. 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 to reminisce and celebrate a man gone too soon.   

In lieu of flowers, in memory of Jesse, please consider donating to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://secure.pancan.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6701&mfc_pref=T&6701.donation=form1  

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