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

Mayor Andre Dickens' appearance at a MARTA board meeting Thursday comes in the midst of an ongoing back and forth fight between the city and MARTA over transit expansion in Atlanta.

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

A.M. ATL: Streetcar swerve

A.M. ATL: Millions could feel Medicaid cuts

A.M. ATL: Airline shakeups

Featured

State Rep. Kimberly New, R-Villa Rica, stands in the House of Representatives during Crossover Day at the Capitol in Atlanta on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Georgia election bill replaced in late-night maneuver, an attempt to change voting laws

A short elections bill advancing through the Georgia General Assembly is a "vehicle" for bigger potential changes to voting laws.

10K-square-foot mystery restaurant planned for CNN Center reboot

The owners of the Center, formerly known as CNN Center, announced that a high-end restaurant tenant had been secured as the downtown Atlanta building is redeveloped.

Tent-slashing raises questions about Old Wheat Street encampment sweep

Caseworkers faced threats from suspect Daniel Barnett before a January sweep ended in Taylor’s death. Could officials have acted sooner?