Miss Jessies was the paternal grandmother of Miko and Titi Branch, founders of Miss Jessie's Natural Hair Products and Salon.
A proud southern matriarch, Miss Jessie was the most "tell- it- like- it- is" woman her family ever knew.
She was also the "cookinist" woman in Poughkeepsie, chuckled her granddaughter Titi.
Never one to hold her tongue, Miss Jessie reserved her most colorful commentary for two subjects: good food and good grooming.
It wasn't uncommon that her food and natural hair preparations contained some of the same ingredients.
If Miss Jessie couldn't find what she wanted in a local shop, she'd figure out a way to make it herself (right at her kitchen table).