Jean Dahl

Jean M. Dahl, 70 years old, went home to be with the Lord on the morning of January 25, 2021, after a brief illness. Jean was the only child-- born December 23, 1950 -- in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Geneva and Joseph Smith of Petersburg, VA. She attended Baltimore City Public Schools and vocational schools, where she was trained to be an Executive Secretary.

Jean’s first job, after graduating from Edmondson High School in 1968, was with the Baltimore City Health Department. For the next 44 years, Jean served the citizens of Baltimore City. In 1970, she began a 22- year career as an Administrative Assistant in the Baltimore City Law Department. Her strong work ethic, professionalism, and pleasant personality resulted in advancement where she served as the Administrative Assistant to Chief Solicitors Jay M. Caplan and then Martin P. Welch. In 1992, that professional relationship with Martin P. Welch continued for the next 22 years, when she accompanied him upon his appointment to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City as his Administrative Assistant.

Jean and Judge Welch both retired in 2014. Her occupation suited her servant’s heart as she nurtured, trained, loved, and maintained a healthy relationship with a myriad of law clerks--all of whom she remained in contact with up to the day she transitioned to be with the Lord.

Jean received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. She loved the Lord and made a daily goal of striving to please Him in all that she did. Jean was a faithful member of Faith Baptist Church for many years. She served on the Sunday School, Choir, Women, and Counseling Ministries. She was an avid Young Adult Sunday School Teacher and served as the Women’s Ministry President for four years. She loved to sing God’s praises and oftentimes you would witness her singing one of her favorite hymns, “Beams of Heaven.” As a young woman, she sang on the Paige Choraleers and Women’s Chorus under the direction of Linda Hardy and Bettye McLeod, respectively.

Jean enjoyed hearing a good preached word and was not a stranger to filling her house with various CDs, books, reading materials and other recordings of sermons and spiritual teachings. Jean’s mother was always meticulous about how she would dress as a young girl, and Jean continued this practice as an adult. She was always adorned in beautifully matched outfits and designer shoes. She never entered the doors of the church without a loving heart and a “classy” hat! For over thirty-five years Jean travelled around the country attending the Lott Carey Foreign Missionary Convention as well as attended the Annual National Baptist Congress on Christian Education in various States. Jean served as a Youth Advisor and participated on the Educational Staff for the National Baptist Congress for years. It was there at the Lott Carey Foreign Missionary Convention that she met her first adopted son, Pastor Marcellous D. Mack. For many years,

Jean served as the Church Clerk and devoted many hours of service to her profession. She will always be remembered stepping up to the podium on Sunday mornings to read the church announcements. Her unique and distinct voice will never be forgotten. Without a doubt, Jean had the natural ability to give others a warm feeling of belonging. She devoted herself to the well-being of her godchildren and was affectionately known as a “second mother” to many. Her favorite hobbies included watching MSNBC to keep abreast of the latest political strategies, shopping, eating, going out to dinner, and spending time with her family and friends, especially during the holidays. She was very rich in her words of wisdom and love for her nephews, Artez, Omari, Myles, Ahmi, Cedrick and Blake and surrogate daughter and niece, Keisha R. Scott. Jean had a loving heart and shared sacrificially all that she had. Although Jean was never a biological mother she gave motherly advice to all of her godchildren and treated them as if they were her own. She loved them with a mother’s heart; unconditionally.

Jean was a strong woman exemplified by simultaneously caring for her elderly husband (Norman Dahl) and mother (Geneva Smith) with their ailments at home and became their devoted care provider for several years. Her patience, determination and strength helped her to endure the stressors associated with being a care provider. Jean’s life is a living example of Ephesians 4:32 — “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Jean’s husband, Norman Dahl; mother, Geneva Smith; father, Joseph Smith; nephew, Ardell Scott, Aunt Margie and Uncle William Parham all preceded her in death. Jean’s best friend, Carolyn Garcia, went home to be with the Lord two weeks before Jean’s death.

Left to cherish her memories are: first cousins, Diane and Guffy Parham, niece, Keisha R. Scott, surrogate brother and friend, Edgar C. Green, Jr.; a host of special nephews; surrogate sister, Adele A. Israel; Goddaughters, Charlotte A. Rogers, Monique Taylor, Tara Green, Deana J. Johnson; Godsons, Calvin M. Israel & Cedric Witherspoon; one adopted son, Pastor Marcellous D. Mack; Best Friends, Vanessa Chambers and Robin L. Tiggle; devoted caregiver and friend Esmeralda Coral and a host of other relatives and friends.

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