Jamaica Observer Senior Reporter Alecia Smith died on Tuesday, plunging the journalism fraternity into shock and mourning.

Smith had fallen ill in February and was hospitalised. She was subsequently discharged and scheduled to undergo surgery. She, however, passed after the operation.

Smith joined the Observer on August 29, 2022 after a long sojourn at the State news agency Jamaica Information Service (JIS) where she covered Parliament.

Her tenure at the Observer saw her continuing parliamentary coverage as well as other beats for the newspaper.

“Alecia gave solid coverage of the House of Representatives and the Senate and at times when she ventured into feature writing I saw that she was enjoying her craft,” Observer Executive Editor – Publications Vernon Davidson said.

“I was hoping she would have pulled through the surgery and would get back to being the loving, caring mother to her son,” he added.

“She was generally very quiet, but was obviously a fun-loving person with an easy smile. I remember well how she stunned many of us in the Editorial Department by winning a dance contest at one of our Christmas dinners.

“We will miss her and we extend our condolence to her family and friends,” Davidson added.

Smith’s long-time friend and fellow Senior Reporter Alicia Dunkley-Willis, who also worked at JIS, said she had “always known her as a quiet and reserved person, but as fun-loving and pleasant as any other.

“I’d visualised her returning to work and had actually mused on a welcome back gift. She was easy to talk to and we could always laugh about various things or discuss our children. She wasn’t one to complain; she was the type who would keep trying until her efforts bore fruit,” Dunkley-Willis said.

Senior Associate Editor Pete Sankey said he was saddened by Smith’s passing.

“I was praying that she would hold on. I followed her work during her time at the JIS and was happy when she joined the team at the Observer. She will be missed. Sleep well, Alecia,” he said.

Sports Content Manager Andre Lowe said that for the relatively brief time that he knew and worked alongside Smith, “she always presented herself as a quiet, professional and sweet-mannered lady who went about her days without much fuss.

“She always greeted me with a smile, and our interactions were always pleasant. She clearly enjoyed her work and, from a distance, appeared to take real pride in the execution of her duties as a parliamentary reporter. I will miss her smile and quiet presence and I pray that her family will find peace and comfort in this really difficult moment,” Lowe said.

Meanwhile, JIS, in a news release, also expressed sadness at Smith’s passing.

Noting that she was past student of Herbert Morrison High School, the news agency said Smith entered journalism after attaining a bachelor’s degree in media and communications (major) and a minor in philosophy from The University of the West Indies in 2007.

She joined the JIS Editorial Department in 2008 and honed her skills over 14 years as a reporter, apprising the nation of the Government’s work, through coverage of Parliament and the Office of the Prime Minister.

She specialised in writing features, producing human interest pieces about the impact of Government programmes and projects on people.

“Alecia was a valuable member of the JIS and her departure for the private media in 2022 left a void in the reporting team,” the agency said. “She took with her the high standards of quality news writing, which were reflected in the many stories that she authored.”

Her close friend and colleague Chris Patterson said, “I met Al when I joined JIS in 2008, and we developed a close and unbreakable bond of friendship over the years.

“I respected her skills as a prolific writer and a journalist of high integrity. I valued her friendship and cherished her honesty and genuineness dearly. There are no words to express the depth of my sorrow,” Patterson said.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Celia Lindsay remembered Smith as “an excellent news writer who was committed to getting the job done at a high standard, always”.

“Alecia’s passing is a tremendous loss, and we are deeply saddened,” she said.

The legacy of Smith’s work is recorded in the archive of stories she crafted on various topics. She has captured the history of the nation, documented the voice of authorities and beneficiaries, and has left material for students, researchers, and the future generation to consume.

“The JIS expresses condolence to Alecia’s family, particularly her son, friends, colleagues at the Jamaica Observer, and the wider journalistic fraternity.”