McWhorter Family
Dr. Jessie Louise McWhorter of Monticello, GA., is part of a four generation UGA alumni legacy and a member of one of the University's most illustrious alumni families.
A retired educator who spent 40 years in public education, she holds three degrees from the University of Georgia: A.B. '50, M.A. '54, Ed. D. '69.
Her father, Hezzie McWhorter graduated from UGA in 1911; her daughter, Mary Louise Jordan received her A.B. in 1969 and her granddaughter, Jessalyn Alexander earned her B.A. in Music in 1996. Hezzie was a distinguished attorney and her daughter and granddaughter are both teachers.
Their family - the McWhorters - have been important in Georgia history through the years. According to historian Nash Boney, "more than 225 have officially passed through the University of Georgia."
They have served in the military, in local and state government, in education and public service and several have won University recognition Bob McWhorter '14 was a renown athlete who played football at UGA and became the first Bulldog All American in 1913.
H. Boyd McWhorter '49 was a professor, dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty Chairman of Athletics and then served as commissioner for the Southeastern Conference from 1971 to 1986.
The McWhorter family, which includes a large number of Athens area residents, has a reunion each June, a tradition that has been maintained for 123 years. They usually meet in the Athens vicinity and their 100th reunion was held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
Jessie says her father who practiced in Bleckley County and served as state representative from that area was such a Bulldog fan that a cousin once said Hezzie's mood was determined by how the Georgia team performed on Saturday.
Jessie spent her last years before retirement as a counselor. Her former husband was a football coach and they lived in several different cities in Georgia but Monticello has been her home for most of her years.
Her daughter, Mary Louise, serves as Curriculum Director for Jasper County Schools and her granddaughter teaches music in Sandersville and is an accomplished soloist.
Jesse, who remains active in community and church affairs, is proud of her family heritage and her University of Georgia Bulldog legacy.
Claude McBride '55, former UGA Alumni Association Tour Director is a veritable repository of campus lore and is now assisting us in writing legacy stories such as the one above. If you have an interesting legacy story please e-mail Claude at cmcbride@uga.edu.
