The “First Lady” of Barnesville Marks 99th Birthday
Today, January 22 is an important day for Jean Davies, her family and the entire Barnesville community as the “First Lady marks her 99th Birthday and begins her 100th year of life!
Adverse to drawing attention to herself, we’ve held off posting anything until her family shared birthday wishes earlier today online.
Jean is synonymous with Barnesville news and history! While her mother was expecting her third child, she worked each week composing the weekly edition of the family’s beloved Barnesville Enterprise newspaper. She literally grew up at the newspaper office.
After graduating from The Ohio State University where she became a “loyal Buckeye”, Jean and her late husband, Bill, joined the family business.
Jean formally retired in 1991 yet continued a regular weekly column and features up through the paper’s 150th anniversary in 2016.
Over the decades, Jean not only reported local news, now local history, she’s also made history. Since 1950s, most Barnesville institutions, projects and events have benefited from her contributions and wise counsel.
In honor of Jean’s commitment and dedication to local news as well as her devotion to the former Barnesville Enterprise, this past, August board of directors of the Barnesville Area News Company named her a founding member and honorary trustee.
Little could Ray and Margaret Palmer know on January 22, 1927, what a remarkable person was joining their two sons as part of the Palmer household.
We understand Jean’s family will take her out to dinner today, followed by a nightcap in her beloved downtown Barnesville at the Blue Moon Tavern!
Today, Jean Palmer Davies, having lived 99 full years, begins her 100th year of life!
Good wishes may be sent to her at The Walton Home, 1254 East Main Street, Barnesville, OH 43713.
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