Page 66 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2023 - Online Magazine

Exceptional
SENIORS
Nelda Jett
Paving the
By LaVila Henry
he opportunity arose, and
though she loved her position
Tin the medical field, she was
convinced that this change would be
beneficial. On January 1, 1982, Nelda
Jett became the first female State
Farm Insurance agent in Lubbock.
The tenth child and baby of the
family of Horace Greeley Jett and
Willie Irene Jett, Nelda was born and
raised in Dalton, Georgia. Her dad
was the owner of a grocery store, but
the family business fell prey to the
Great Depression, and everything
was lost. However, Horace was able
to find work with other stores and
keep the family afloat.
66 Lubbock Senior Link
Way
About her
mother, Nelda
noted: “Mother
took care of
the home and
family, and she
did it well. She
taught us to do
things right the
first time—or
do it again. She
read her Bible
every night
and prayed.
We shared that
with her if we
were awake.
She also sang
a lot while working. I got my voice cost of going to the class to become
from her.” a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
Because she did exceptionally well
At the age of 14, Nelda started a at Hamilton Memorial, she was
part time job at the local drugstore awarded a three-year scholarship
while attending high school. She to Erlanger School of Nursing in
always loved school, and her grades Chattanooga, Tennessee.
showed it.
After she had completed two and a
In August of 1966, a few months half years of her three-year training,
after her high school graduation, her future husband, Jack Short,
the mayor’s wife came into the asked for her hand in marriage.
drugstore where Nelda was working He had ten months left of his naval
and told her about a one-year commitment and wanted her to
nursing program at Hamilton marry him and move to San Diego
Memorial, their local hospital, to complete his assignment. She
and suggested she check into it. didn’t want to abandon her training,
She did. In the four years she had but her father was near death and
worked at the drugstore, she had told her she should do it. “He
managed to save $325.00 in pennies, wanted to see his baby married
which happened to be the exact before he died!!”