Obituary of Jean Jefferson

Jean (Craig) Jefferson (née McIntosh)

July 6, 1928 - July 17, 2024

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Jean, 96, passed peacefully at her residence on July 17, 2024.  She was predeceased by her husband Michael Jefferson (2022).  Jean was a life-long resident of Stoney Creek and area. She was a woman before her time. Her career in Media and Communications started at the Stoney Creek News in 1952 as a reporter and photographer.  She eventually became co-owner, publisher and Editor. Ownership of a newspaper by women was so unusual at this time that Jean and her co-owners were written up in Time Magazine.  Jean later worked in television as Program Director and host of The Jean Craig Show for cable stations in Stoney Creek and Hamilton.  As a compliment to her work, Jean became a member of the Canadian Women's Press Club, eventually becoming the National President.

Later in her career, Jean became a licensed teacher for Unity Church of Canada.  As a result, she became authorized by the Province of Ontario to perform marriages. She continued to do this into her 90s.

Throughout her life, Jean was a dancer, in fact, that is how she defined herself.  She began with highland dancing when she was very young, and continued to dance and perform well into her 80s, doing tap, ballet, jazz and comedy skits. She performed in the Geritol Follies, Hamilton City Lights, and Golden Age Variety. This took her to New York for classes where she was excited to meet actor and dancer Gregory Hines.

She was a tireless community volunteer.  Among other things, she was the President of Big Brothers of Canada, Hamilton and District; a member of the Wentworth County School Board; Chairman of the Stoney Creek Canada Flag Day Festival Board; Vice-President of Communications for the Provincial Council of Women of Ontario; a member of the Stoney Creek Charter Women’s Institute; and President of the Board of Directors of Unity Spiritual Centre in Hamilton.

She was the daughter of Ethel McIntosh (Lounsbury) (1998), and Robert McIntosh (1959).  She was predeceased by her sister Norma Tuttle (2008) and her brother Roy McIntosh (2020).  She will be sadly missed by her children Barbara Craig, Jo-Ann Greene, David Craig (Sue Ruscinski), Kathryn Craig, and Jeff Craig (Tammy), her grandchildren, Yancy (Kayt Render), Kyle, Sean, Anna, Malcolm (Esther), Sarah-Jean, Ewen, Jude, and Keira, and her great-granddaughter Rowan.  She will be fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews and their families.  She will also be missed by her church family.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 12 King Street East, Stoney Creek, ON, followed by dinner and celebration. Jean requested that everyone wear bright colours.

If desired, expressions of sympathy to Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students would be sincerely appreciated.