Beattie Jackson (BJ) and Mary Smith - Beattie Jackson (BJ) and Mary Smith. The Smyth County Jam welcomes our visitors who came from Alaska via Rural Retreat; where they make their home presently. Although BJ was born and raised in Nebo, Virginia. When he left, he went into the military and saw Alaska, and as he says "fell in love with it!" BJ spent a total of forty-seven years there. Retiring from service, he went into the carpenters trade. Mary and BJ have two daughters, one in Alaska and one in Atlanta, Georgia. Neither of the Smiths are musicians, but avid lovers of bluegrass music. Mary Smith ran a cafe in Alaska and also worked for Nordstrom (a high-end department store). The Smiths like Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and the local band True Grass. They have promised to come back to Smyth County Jam very soon.
