Jessie Crawford graduated from Boston University and from Yale Divinity School. She was ordained in 1956. She held a variety of positions, including Professor of Religious Education at Denison University, New York University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She also served as Director of Religion for Colby Junior College, and as president of the Baptist Missionary Training School. She was active in religious girls’ camps in New Hampshire and after retirement, was senior librarian of Religious Education in the East Orange, New Jersey Public Library.