Community Honors Legacy of Bettye Mae Jack With Street Sign Dedication
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By Cheryl Owens
Mississippi
Friends and family gather for dedication
Under the blazing sun and the heat of a humid Mississippi day, community members gathered Saturday to honor the legacy of Bettye Mae Jack, a pioneering educator whose dedication to children and education left an unforgettable mark on Morton and Scott County.
Friends, former students and longtime residents came together for the dedication and unveiling of a street sign in her honor, celebrating the life of a woman who spent four decades serving the Scott County school system and creating opportunities for generations of students.
For those gathered, the new street sign represents much more than a name. It represents a lifetime of service, determination and a belief that every child deserved the chance to learn and succeed.
A Rankin County native, Jack became the first and only Jeanes Supervisor for Scott County Schools. Beginning her career as a Jeanes teacher through a historic program designed to strengthen rural, underfunded schools, she later served as a guidance counselor and administrator. Through those roles, she became a respected leader who mentored students, supported teachers and helped raise the standard of education throughout the county.
Jack also was a former member of the Cotton Blossom Singers, and her influence continues to be remembered today through Bettye Mae Jack Middle School and the annual Bettye Mae Jack Morton Vocational School Reunions held at Farris Municipal Park.
After 40 years of dedicated service, Jack officially retired in 1976. Her contributions were recognized by the community through the celebration of “Bettye Mae Jack Day,” honoring the impact she had made on countless lives.
Joe Ann White Pheal, a former student and longtime Morton resident, said Saturday’s dedication marked a special milestone for the community.
“It means a milestone and a long time coming for this neighborhood,” Pheal said. “Especially how Miss Jack dedicated her life to all the Scott County schools.”
Pheal said Jack worked to make sure every child had an opportunity, regardless of where they attended school.
“She made it possible when we thought there wasn’t a way, but she made a way for every boy and girl that was going to school,” Pheal said. “She was a person that believed in all children, no matter what school you went to. She wanted to make sure all boys and girls had an opportunity.”
Pheal, who attended school in Morton, said she was proud to see Jack’s legacy recognized.
“I am so proud of this moment in Morton,” she said.
Longtime Morton resident McKinley Kincaid said the dedication was a meaningful day for the entire community, not only those who attended school during Jack’s time.
“It’s a great day for all of us,” Kincaid said. “Not just for the people that went to Morton Vocational Bettye Mae Jack, but the whole town of Morton. We are so proud of Ms Bettye Mae Jack.
Kincaid said although he was young when Jack was serving the community, he remembers hearing about her accomplishments.
“I was a little boy when she was here, but I remember her stories and what she achieved academically and athletically,” he said.
Carl Lucas, another longtime Morton resident, said the community has much to be thankful for because of Jack’s commitment to education.
“We have so much to be thankful for,” Lucas said. “She tried all she could to do things to help us become educated.”
Lucas acknowledged that Jack’s work came during a challenging time and was not always easy.
“That was not real easy because everybody would not support that,” Lucas said. “They felt like it was not necessary.”
Morton Mayor Jimmy Steadman said he was honored to be part of the dedication and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Jack’s remarkable life and career.
Steadman, who attended school in Morton during the early 1970s, said reading about Jack’s accomplishments gave him a greater appreciation for her impact.
“When I read her history, I had to stop and smell the roses,” Steadman said.
Steadman said Jack was a highly respected educator who devoted her life to serving others.
“She was a very loved and educated person,” he said. “She had 40 years of service and retired in 1976.”
He said the dedication was a reminder of the important role Jack played during a time of change in the community.
“When we went here, it was a change for us and we all got along,” Steadman said.
Today, Bettye Mae Jack’s legacy continues to live on through the schools, programs and generations of students influenced by her dedication. The newly dedicated street sign serves as a lasting reminder of a woman who believed in education, opportunity and the future of Scott County’s children.
