‘Mama Jag’ dies at 79

Jewel Durr, known affectionately to the Southern University community as “Mama Jag,” died on Sept. 15 at Lane Memorial Hospital in Zachary. She was 79.
“We had a personal relationship ever since I’ve been here,” said Pete Richardson, Southern head football coach. “I knew she had been sick for a while and I tried to go and see her as much as I could.”
Durr was arguably Southern’s biggest fan according to Richardson, she was like an icon of the athletic department.
“She was associated with us for so many years,” Richardson said. “When she attended the games, she really fired up the crowd and got the support of the fan base.”
Born in Columbia, Miss. on March 12, 1926, Durr was the daughter of Nephus and Ida Jefferson.
She worked as a Southern employee for 35 years before retiring to become a full-time Jaguar fan.
In her capacity as “mother” to the Jaguar nation, Durr was awarded over 75 plaques from SU departments and organizations.
She was also the recipient of many accolades that reflected her generosity and spirit throughout the community.
In April 2005, Durr was inducted into the SU Sports Hall of Fame.
Evelyn Albert, a Southern professor of English said Durr was a great cheerleader of all Jaguar sports and showed a genuine love for the Jaguar nation.
“Mama Jaguar loved Southern and everything she even thought it stood for,” Albert said. “She loved the coaches, the administration, the students and she showed it in her actions.”
Albert said Durr made her presence known by walking around, cheering and getting the crowd excited.
“Some people who don’t know her and think she was just some old lady who sat in a rocking chair and called herself Mama Jag, there’re wrong,” Albert said. “Sometimes she would get down there and cheer with the cheerleaders. She attended every sporting event unless she was ill.
“That blue and gold meant so much to her,” she said.
Albert said those who didn’t know Dunn were quickly acquainted with her.
“If you didn’t know who she was she would tell you, ‘I’m Mama Jag,'” Albert said.
Funeral services for Durr will be held on Sept. 22 at 3 p.m, at Greater King David Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.