Created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Charlie Adlard, the character made her debut in The Walking Dead #72 in 2010.

In both media, Jessie is living in an unhappy, abusive marriage with her husband Pete and her son Ron (and Sam in the TV series) in the Alexandria Safe-Zone.

Jessie appears as a resident of the Alexandria Safe-Zone community which Rick Grimes and his survivors enter.

[1] Although her investment in the safe zone itself is limited and she refuses to speak about her marital problems, she is abruptly encountered by Rick, who faces the issue immediately.

[volume & issue needed] Rick confronts her in private and she admits that Pete has been physically abusive, but still stands by him.

[volume & issue needed] Jessie grieves silently, but rather shortly, as she finds herself relieved that the trouble is over.

[volume & issue needed] Rick begins to move on from his late previous wife, Lori, as his relationship with Jessie grows stronger.

[volume & issue needed] In the episode "Remember", Jessie appears as a member of the Alexandria Safe-Zone who gives supplies to newcomer Rick Grimes, who recently shaved his long beard, and Jessie offers to give him a haircut.

Later in the episode, Jessie's young son Sam asks Carol for a gun for protection, which raises her suspicions toward Pete's domestic treatment of his family.

Pete punches Rick, which leads to them having a fight in their house, and then in the street after they blast through the window, brawling.

In the episode "JSS" when the Wolves attack Alexandria, Jessie hides with Sam in a closet, but goes downstairs to warn Ron away from the house, as she knows a Wolf is inside, armed with a gun.

Jessie rises from the ground and picks up some scissors from her stylist set and runs towards the Wolf when her back is turned.

In the midseason finale, "Start to Finish", Jessie helps Rick, an injured Deanna, Carl, Michonne, Gabriel, and Ron into her house after Alexandria is swarmed with walkers.

He starts making noise and Jessie and Ron desperately try to calm him down, but the walkers find him and devour him.

While Jessie is being eaten alive, Carl attempts to escape, but is unable due to her tight grip on his hand.