Jessica Grace

Messersmith

With hearts full of love and cherished remembrances, we celebrate the life of Jessica Grace Irby Holden Messersmith, who passed from this Earth to her heavenly Father on April 6, 2026. She was surrounded by many of her beloved children, grandchildren and great grandchildren during Holy Week and Easter Sunday before letting go of her earthly existence with peace and grace.

Jessica was born August 16, 1933 in Houston, TX to parents Elton and Arthur Irby and lived in Richmond, TX until her adoption at the age of 10 by Henrietta and Warren Holden.  After briefly living in Laredo, TX, the Holden family moved permanently to San Antonio, TX.

Jessica graduated from the prestigious All Saints High School in Vicksburg, MS and attended Trinity College in San Antonio. Her desire in her young womanhood was to become a doctor, but her brilliance was manifested in many other ways throughout her life as a mathematical whiz, a linguist and an expert in art, history and literature. Her early years of classical education and exposure to the world through travel led to a lifelong love of learning, and a yearning to seek out points of view beyond her own experiences.

While at Trinity, she met Don Salyer and they were married in 1952 in Sweetwater, TX, where they made their home and raised their two girls, Dona and Laurie. They were married until Don's death in 1974.

Jessica was a tireless worker and pillar of the Sweetwater community to her dying day. She worked many years for the city of Sweetwater, and eventually was promoted to city comptroller, the first woman to ever hold that position. She founded and led an Alateen group for young people who were touched directly or indirectly by addiction, and to this day is beloved by those whose lives she helped improve through this leadership. A lifelong Episcopalian, she was an active member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sweetwater for over seventy years. Here she found peace and purpose beyond measure. Jessica served for many years on the Altar Guild, and as Lay Reader, in addition to holding several positions on the Bishop's Committee. She strongly supported the ecumenical efforts in Sweetwater through her participation in Sweetwater Emmaus.

As a young widow, Jessica met, fell deeply in love and married Harry Sutton Messersmith. She moved to Andover, MA, becoming the stepmother to Harry's seven children – five grown sons and two teenage girls still living at home, Susan and Patricia. She successfully and joyfully created a blended family with an enduring sister- and brotherhood that she delighted in up to her last days on this earth. Jessica and Harry eventually relocated to Sweetwater, but spent much of their lives in the Messersmith summer cottage in South Chatham on Cape Cod, MA. Jessica began working as Director of Real Estate at Lawrence Management after her return to Sweetwater, where she remained a trusted and valued member of the team until her retirement at age 89.  The love story and everlasting legacy of Jessica's and Harry's marriage will forever be exemplified by their family of nine children, 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Harry Messersmith, and her sister, Elton Irby Burch of Nantucket, MA.  She is survived by daughters Dona Boatright (husband Kent), Laurie Holcomb ( husband Mark-deceased), Susan DeFranco (husband Mark), Patricia Moran (husband Tim), and sons John Messersmith, David Messersmith, Harry (Chip) Messersmith, Charles (Chuck) Messersmith (wife Mary), Robert Messersmith (wife Carolina); grandchildren Micajah Boatright (wife Jodi), Andrew Boatright (wife Kerry), Meredith Garretson (husband Daniel), Cassie Holcomb (husband David Lage), Julia Messersmith (husband David Dugan), Christian Messersmith, Dana DeFranco Marques (husband Miguel), Andrew DeFranco, Michelle Moran, Nicole Moran, Katrina Dionisio (husband Brian), Michael Messersmith, Harley Messersmith; great-grandchildren Ty Boatright, Jake Boatright, Drew Boatright, Olivia Boatright, Wren Lage, Maeve Dionisio, and Henley Dionisio.

Jessica will be remembered by her loving family and devoted friends for many things, chief among them are her compassion and spiritual honesty, her commitment to service and to her word, but most importantly, her love for her family. She was known to all as a child of God by how she lived outwardly and sustained herself inwardly. She is deeply missed but most surely resting in the arms of Jesus.

A service will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 502 Locust St. in Sweetwater, Texas at 10 am on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Father Edson Way officiating.  Jessica specified and the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church or the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mccoyfh.com