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

Keep Reading

Greene County head football coach Darius Robinson, seen here celebrating with his team after a win in October, was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News)

Credit: Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com