<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.1
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>l90082aex24-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 24.1
<TEXT>
<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each of the undersigned directors and officers of The J. M. Smucker
Company, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints
Timothy P. Smucker, Richard K. Smucker, and Steven J. Ellcessor and each of
them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as the true and lawful
attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact, for each of the undersigned and in the
name, place and stead of each of the undersigned, to sign and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities Act") one or more Registration Statement(s) on Form S-3 relating to
the registration for resale of common stock, without par value, of the Company,
with any and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, including
pre-effective and post-effective amendments or supplements or any additional
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 promulgated under the
Securities Act, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts
and things whatsoever necessary, advisable or desirable to be done in the
premises, hereby ratifying and approving the act of said attorneys and any of
them and any such substitute.

         Executed as of this 22nd day of August 2001.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C>
/s/ Timothy P. Smucker                               /s/ Richard K. Smucker
--------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
Timothy P. Smucker                                   Richard K. Smucker
Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer,             President and Co-Chief Executive Officer,
and Director                                         and Director

/s/ Kathryn W. Dindo                                 /s/ Charles S. Mechem, Jr.
--------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
Kathryn W. Dindo                                     Charles S. Mechem, Jr.
Director                                             Director

/s/ Elizabeth Valk Long                              /s/ William H. Steinbrink
--------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Valk Long                                  William H. Steinbrink
Director                                             Director

/s/ William Wrigley, Jr.                             /s/ Vincent C. Byrd
--------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
William Wrigley, Jr.                                 Vincent C. Byrd
Director                                             Vice President and General Manager -
                                                     Consumer Market, and Director

/s/ Fred A. Duncan                                   /s/ Richard G. Jirsa
--------------------------------------------         -----------------------------------------------
Fred A. Duncan                                       Richard G. Jirsa
Vice President and General Manager -                 Vice President - Information Systems and
Industrial Market, and Director                      Corporate Controller

/s/ Steven J. Ellcessor
-------------------------------------------
Steven J. Ellcessor
Vice President - Finance and Administration,
Secretary, and General Counsel
</TABLE>


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
