Jeannette McNeil Cathy, widow of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy dies at 92 | PHOTOS

JONESBORO — Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy’s widow died Wednesday night, company officials announced.

According to the release issued by Chick-fil-A, Jeannette McNeil Cathy was 92. Her husband of nearly 66 years died last year.

Jeannette McNeil was born Dec. 23, 1922. As fate would have it, she lived in Atlanta just up the street from a then 8-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 Sept. 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 diner into a national, nearly $6 billion 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.