If you’re taking a stroll in Old Town Brunswick this spring, and you happen upon the beautiful turrets of Temple Beth Tefilloh on Egmont Street, you’d be standing catty-corner from a beautiful Victorian home that’s currently listed for sale.
Miss Jane Macon's portrait from Jane Macon Middle School
There’s nothing specific that would tell you that the woman who lived there for decades shaped generations of Golden Isles citizens, even if she didn’t have any children of her own. Some people like her never needed a stage. They moved instead through classrooms, along familiar streets, and into the lives of the people around them so steadily that their influence is almost difficult to measure. Miss Jane Macon was one of those figures.
For nearly half a century, Jane Macon taught the children of Glynn County, beginning in 1903 and continuing until her retirement in 1952. Her classroom was not confined to a single generation. Her students would set out into the world, became parents, and their children would once again learn under her instruction.
Glynn Academy as it looked in 1915, early in Jane Macon's tenure. Homes on Wright Square are visible in the distance.
Jane Macon also left her mark in more permanent ways. She authored Glynn Academy’s alma mater anthem and devoted years to preserving family histories, recording names and connections that might otherwise have slipped into obscurity. By the time she stepped away from teaching in 1952, her presence had become a constant. Glynn County honored Macon’s legacy by naming Jane Macon Middle School after her when it opened in 1958.
In a season devoted to mothers, it’s worth remembering that some women helped raise a community through a quieter devotion that endures long after the lesson ends.
Josh Dukes is a local historian, digital photo restoration specialist, and co-author of Brunswick: Past & Present (available at local retailers and online at joshdukesofficial.com.)
