Jeanne Bragg, wife of Tommy Bragg, mayor of Murfreesboro, received the Tennessee Municipal League’s “Stand by your Spouse” Award at TML’s 74thannual conference in Memphis. The award is given each year to the spouse of an elected official in recognition of the many sacrifices they give in the name of public service.
As the wife of Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg, Jeanne not only compliments her husband as a strong civic-minded presence in the community, she simply makes life better everyday for someone. Described as charming, independent, fair and hardworking, Jeanne is extremely outgoing with a multitude of friends she can call along her husband’s campaign trail, yet she has also carved an important niche of her own in the community, as a tireless advocate for volunteerism and service.
Raised in Knoxville, she received a BA in French in 1968 at the University of Tennessee, and holds the distinction of being the first female credit analyst in the city when she worked at Dun & Bradstreet. After marrying her spouse in June 1969, Jeanne would leave Tennessee to be by his side as an Air Force wife, stationed for 26 months at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in Grandview, MO. Following the service, she would not return to Knoxville, but to her husband’s hometown, where the Braggs would raise three children and work at the family printing business. It’s also where she would begin her lifelong journey to connect with the many facets of her newly adopted community.
While she doesn't pop out of a bottle like the Genie in the TV series, Jeanne is every bit as magical to her family, friends and just about anybody fortunate enough to be near her.
She’s constantly cooking for charity, for her church, husband and family; when anyone in town wants good food, they know who to turn to. A lover of culture, this fabulous cook, published writer and seamstress, also loves art and has painted and collected a number of very special pieces to adorn her husband’s home and office.
A regular at the neighborhood fabric store, Jeanne’s hardly ever far from a needle and thread, making clothes for the little ones, her grandchildren, Jeanne Warren, age 4 (pronounced “Gene” with no “e” at end) and Mary Malcolm Warren, age 1, as well as gifts for newlyweds and others in the community. She enjoys gardening and produces cut flowers, annuals and perennials.
As a member of St. Rose Catholic Church, Jeanne is part of the Murfreesboro Charity Circle, and has worked with the neighborhood Food Bank and Boys & Girls club. She also retired from State Farm Regional Office in 1984 after 12 years of service.
But she doesn't keep her experiences to her herself, Jeanne writes a weekly column in the Murfreesboro Post, entitled “Mrs. Murfreesboro” sharing her personal experiences with children, technology, her yard and her universe. Popular to her readers, Jeanne’s expressed through writing, the wonder of her life and the pride in her community that makes her such a special person. It’s why the Tennessee Municipal League is proud to call Jeanne Bragg TML’s 2013 Spouse of the Year.”
Source:
The Tennessee Municipal League
Carole Graves
Carole Graves
