News
News

A brief history of Jeannette Cathy's marriage to S. Truett Cathy

“Our mother has always been the spiritual nucleus and encourager of our family,” said eldest son Dan Cathy. The Cathys had three children, 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
“Our mother has always been the spiritual nucleus and encourager of our family,” said eldest son Dan Cathy. The Cathys had three children, 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
By Adam Carlson
July 23, 2015

Jeannette and S. Truett Cathy really were childhood sweethearts.

The future first family of Chick-fil-A, Jeannette (born Jeannette McNeil in 1922) lived up the street from Truett in Atlanta, and met him while attending West End Baptist Church in Atlanta, when he was 8 years old.

The two married in 1948 and remained together for 65 years, until Truett's death in September at 93. Jeannette died Wednesday at 92.

"I immediately had a crush on her that I have never gotten over," Truett wrote of their first meeting, in "Eat Mor Chikin Inspire More People."

Though they met as children, Truett said he didn't begin courting Jeannette until after he launched The Dwarf Grill with his brother, Ben.

"They fell in love to the backdrop of songs they selected from a jukebox, sharing Coca-Colas," according to Chick-fil-A's website.

Read and sign the AJC online guestbook for Jeannette Cathy

About the Author

Adam Carlson
More Stories

Keep Reading

(2023 file photo) Fort Gordon, near Augusta, Georgia, was renamed as Fort Eisenhower in 2023. Could it be switched back to Fort Gordon? (Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Credit: TNS

First, Fort Bragg. Then Fort Benning. Is Georgia’s Fort Eisenhower next?

Fort Eisenhower in Augusta, Georgia was originally named after John Gordon, a Confederate general and slave owner. Could its name switch back?

The Latest

John and Barbara Spence Orsolits are concerned about the economy and have decided to cut back on their planned trips in the coming years.

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

A.M. ATL: Tough life choices

10m ago

A.M. ATL: Streetcar swerve

A.M. ATL: Millions could feel Medicaid cuts

Featured

Workers, clean up damaged house near Paulding County High School after a storm passed through, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Dallas. National Weather Service teams will be conducting a damage survey in the Paulding County/Dallas area, which sustained “pretty significant” damage from the storms, NWS Senior Meteorologist Dylan Lusk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday morning. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

LIVE UPDATES

NWS to investigate possible tornado in Paulding after storm damage

Lisa Young Alston, daughter of former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, dies at 67

Lisa Young Alston, the daughter of former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, has died. The news comes the same week that Young turned 93.

Chaos and confusion: Georgia universities face hard decisions amid federal cuts

Researchers in the Peach State have watched their grants evaporate. The University of Georgia has had nine grants terminated. Georgia Tech has lost three.