Jeannette McNeil was born on December 23, 1922. As fate would have it, she lived in Atlanta just up the street from a then eight-year-old, Coke-peddling S. Truett Cathy. In his book, Eat Mor Chikin Inspire More People, Truett reflects on his first encounter with Jeannette. Describing her as having real charisma, he said “I immediately had a crush on her that I have never gotten over.”
Fortunately for Truett, and the thousands of others whose lives would be impacted by the Cathys, he wouldn’t have to. Much like the business they built together, Truett and Jeannette’s romance is an embodiment of the American dream.
Childhood sweethearts, the two found each other again as adults. They fell in love to the backdrop of songs they selected from a jukebox, sharing Coca-Colas inside Truett’s Original Dwarf House—at the time his only restaurant. The rest, they say, is history. The two married on September 19, 1948.
In marriage, as in life, Truett always credited Jeannette as being the compass that directed his path, the nurturer of his faith, and his partner in making business decisions that would ultimately grow their small Hapeville, GA diner into a national, nearly six billion dollar brand.
“Our mother has always been the spiritual nucleus and encourager of our family,” said eldest son Dan T. Cathy, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. “I can’t remember a day when she was not in full support of Dad in his work and vision for the Chick-fil-A business.”
As matriarch of one of the country’s largest family-owned companies, Jeannette played a key role in launching the Chick-fil-A brand, as well as driving many of the philanthropic efforts that are part of the Chick-fil-A legacy today. Co-recipient of the Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, she and Truett created WinShape Foundation and WinShape Homes—the long-term foster care program serving more than 450 foster children through 13 homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Jeannette was a dedicated wife and mother to children Dan T. Cathy, Donald M. “Bubba” Cathy, Trudy Cathy White, 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Fortunately for Truett, and the thousands of others whose lives would be impacted by the Cathys, he wouldn’t have to. Much like the business they built together, Truett and Jeannette’s romance is an embodiment of the American dream.
Childhood sweethearts, the two found each other again as adults. They fell in love to the backdrop of songs they selected from a jukebox, sharing Coca-Colas inside Truett’s Original Dwarf House—at the time his only restaurant. The rest, they say, is history. The two married on September 19, 1948.
In marriage, as in life, Truett always credited Jeannette as being the compass that directed his path, the nurturer of his faith, and his partner in making business decisions that would ultimately grow their small Hapeville, GA diner into a national, nearly six billion dollar brand.
“Our mother has always been the spiritual nucleus and encourager of our family,” said eldest son Dan T. Cathy, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. “I can’t remember a day when she was not in full support of Dad in his work and vision for the Chick-fil-A business.”
As matriarch of one of the country’s largest family-owned companies, Jeannette played a key role in launching the Chick-fil-A brand, as well as driving many of the philanthropic efforts that are part of the Chick-fil-A legacy today. Co-recipient of the Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, she and Truett created WinShape Foundation and WinShape Homes—the long-term foster care program serving more than 450 foster children through 13 homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Jeannette was a dedicated wife and mother to children Dan T. Cathy, Donald M. “Bubba” Cathy, Trudy Cathy White, 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Jeannette McNeil was born on December 23, 1922. As fate would have it, she lived in Atlanta just up the street from a then eight-year-old, Coke-peddling S. Truett Cathy. In his book, Eat Mor Chikin Inspire More People, Truett reflects on his first encounter with Jeannette. Describing her as having real charisma, he said “I immediately had a crush on her that I have never gotten over.”
Fortunately for Truett, and the thousands of others whose lives would be impacted by the Cathys, he wouldn’t have to. Much like the business they built together, Truett and Jeannette’s romance is an embodiment of the American dream.
Childhood sweethearts, the two found each other again as adults. They fell in love to the backdrop of songs they selected from a jukebox, sharing Coca-Colas inside Truett’s Original Dwarf House—at the time his only restaurant. The rest, they say, is history. The two married on September 19, 1948.
In marriage, as in life, Truett always credited Jeannette as being the compass that directed his path, the nurturer of his faith, and his partner in making business decisions that would ultimately grow their small Hapeville, GA diner into a national, nearly six billion dollar brand.
“Our mother has always been the spiritual nucleus and encourager of our family,” said eldest son Dan T. Cathy, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. “I can’t remember a day when she was not in full support of Dad in his work and vision for the Chick-fil-A business.”
As matriarch of one of the country’s largest family-owned companies, Jeannette played a key role in launching the Chick-fil-A brand, as well as driving many of the philanthropic efforts that are part of the Chick-fil-A legacy today. Co-recipient of the Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, she and Truett created WinShape Foundation and WinShape Homes—the long-term foster care program serving more than 450 foster children through 13 homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Jeannette was a dedicated wife and mother to children Dan T. Cathy, Donald M. “Bubba” Cathy, Trudy Cathy White, 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Fortunately for Truett, and the thousands of others whose lives would be impacted by the Cathys, he wouldn’t have to. Much like the business they built together, Truett and Jeannette’s romance is an embodiment of the American dream.
Childhood sweethearts, the two found each other again as adults. They fell in love to the backdrop of songs they selected from a jukebox, sharing Coca-Colas inside Truett’s Original Dwarf House—at the time his only restaurant. The rest, they say, is history. The two married on September 19, 1948.
In marriage, as in life, Truett always credited Jeannette as being the compass that directed his path, the nurturer of his faith, and his partner in making business decisions that would ultimately grow their small Hapeville, GA diner into a national, nearly six billion dollar brand.
“Our mother has always been the spiritual nucleus and encourager of our family,” said eldest son Dan T. Cathy, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc. “I can’t remember a day when she was not in full support of Dad in his work and vision for the Chick-fil-A business.”
As matriarch of one of the country’s largest family-owned companies, Jeannette played a key role in launching the Chick-fil-A brand, as well as driving many of the philanthropic efforts that are part of the Chick-fil-A legacy today. Co-recipient of the Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale Humanitarian Award, she and Truett created WinShape Foundation and WinShape Homes—the long-term foster care program serving more than 450 foster children through 13 homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Jeannette was a dedicated wife and mother to children Dan T. Cathy, Donald M. “Bubba” Cathy, Trudy Cathy White, 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
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"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches..." Proverbs 22:1
