AKWESASNE -- It is with a sad and heavy heart that the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe acknowledges the passing of Tribal Victim Advocate Kerry Jacobs. Kerry and her life partner Thomas Smiddy began their journey into the spirit world on Saturday, October 23rd.
Kerry will be deeply missed and her loss leaves a void in our hearts and our organization that will be difficult to fill. Her enthusiasm and willingness to serve her fellow community members was unparalleled.
During her time with the Tribe, Kerry served several roles in helping to improve the overall wellbeing of her fellow tribal members. She would instinctively strive to help anyone at any time -- regardless of it being her job, or not. That was Kerry’s way, as she naturally cared.
Kerry’s work to help all tribal members, including children, earned her the 2018 Outstanding Advocate for Child Victims Award from the Clinton County District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Center. Her efforts to protect vulnerable community members was shared, as she served as Victim Advocate for the SRMT Division of Community and Family Services and Sexual Assault Advocate for the Three Sisters Program.
She once wrote and continually strove to reach her objective of “Meeting the needs of families and supporting their journey to healing through family centered advocacy.”
Her exceptional display of community service and spirit was further recognized in 2019, as she was honored with an Employee Enrichment Award. As an amazing advocate and mentor, Kerry uplifted the wounded victims back to an empowered state, as a strong-willed woman that worked tirelessly to the end -- always committing 100% of herself to any client, project, or initiative.
More recently, Kerry was appointed in July 2020 to serve a four-year term on the Akwesasne Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners -- working to address the shortage of safe, sanitary housing for low-income families and individuals. She previously worked for AHA and spearheaded an IRS program called VITA and learned to do income taxes for low-income families in the community, which she continued providing at the Family Advocate’s Office.
She was also a member of the Akwesasne Coalition for Community Empowerment--helping with Red Ribbon Week and other activities, as well as volunteered for the annual Akwesasne Holiday Helpers.
In recognition of Kerry’s passing and her commitment towards improving the safety and welfare of her fellow community members, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has lowered the tribal flag to half-mast until the day after her funeral.
We offer our love, thoughts, and prayers to her family, friends, and the countless lives that she has touched during her time on this world. We will sorely miss her dimples, laughter, and driving force.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.