Union food court named in honor of university icon

The Mother of the Jaguar Nation, Jewel “Mama Jag” Durr Jefferson, was known for welcoming students with a loud cheer at a game or a hot meal after. Now, Mama Jag’s presence will welcome students and visitors of Southern University to the Smith-Brown Memorial Union Food Court that was named in her honor on Friday, Nov. 10.
Student Government Association President Niiobli Armah said the union’s food court is the “living room” of Southern University where the students meet so Mama Jag would want to be there to greet everyone.
For 35 years Mama Jag was a dedicated university employee who was a full-time Southern supporter that bled blue and gold.
“She left an incredible legacy and I still remember her walking up and down the field with that pom pom,” said Ralph Slaughter, president of the Southern University System.
During the naming ceremony on Friday, host Edward Jackson, SUBR chancellor, led the audience by highlighting her accolades and warm disposition.
“Her love and devotion to the blue and gold were unprecedented,” Jackson recited. “She demonstrated this at every opportunity with her cheers, her dance, her delicious food and her attention.”
“It is for these reasons we salute and honor her today,” he said.
Besides SU administrators and staff, there were also words of praise about the university’s icon spoken by members of her family.
“Let the works that I have done speak for me,” said Howard Jefferson, a relative of Mama Jag. “I think the work Mama Jag has done spoke for her. She represented what we should all strive for which was loyalty, strength and friendship.”
In April 2005, Mama Jag was the only female non-athlete to be inducted into the SU Athletic Hall of Fame.
“Some people have a job but for Mama Jag she had something she loved,” said Gregory LaFleur, athletic director for Southern. “It was not just a job for her.”
Mama Jag was a proud supporter of all Southern University sports and made an effort to attend every game possible.
According to Al Barron, director of Career Services, she was also very instrumental in helping the Athletics Department acquire training tables. Barron also played football at SU while he was an undergraduate and remembers fondly of Mama Jag bringing hot meals to the football players after practice.
“She had a way of doing something special for you,” Barron said. “If you came in contact with her, you remembered it.”
Attorney Walter Dumas also recalled her looking out for him while he was a student and needed a helping hand or a hot meal.
“She did not want anything for herself,” he said. “She wanted it for the love of SU.”
Many true Jaguar fans can remember Mama Jag greeting them at home games with a kiss and walking around the football field with her twin granddaughters.
“We are very thankful of Southern University for acknowledging our grandmother,” said the twins, Karlyn and Karryl Durr-Stewart. “This was one of the most memorable moments in our lives. One that we will always cherish.”
Mama Jag died on September 15, 2005 at the age of 79.