Mrs. Mary Jo Whitley was the wife of Columbus College's first president. She was born in Walton County in 1922 and states that she had a "wonderful childhood." She graduated from high school in a class of thirteen. The met Dr. Whitley at a dance at the University of Georgia and they married right after graduation. Dr. and Mrs. Whitley had four children; Mrs. Whitley said she was very involved with raising her children during the thirteen years Dr. Whitley was president of Columbus College.
From the description of Oral history interview with Mrs. Mary Jo Whitley, 2008 March 1 / conducted by Morgan Carraway. (Columbus State University). WorldCat record id: 635499245