April Fool’s Day or “April showers bring May flowers” -- either one was the

time when this romance started.

A knock on the door of a house in the

Virginia hills. Father answered, two men in hunting gear asked “Where

is the best place to go duck hunting?” It began, a question asked and

answered over drink and food -- and they were on their way.

They came every year, and each year a check came to the household for Christmas and a thank-you note by Alfred duPont. Their family letter writer, Jessie, always answered the check.

Jessie learned in her correspondence with Alfred that he had divorced his wife, married again and lost that wife who died. Jessie learned all of this and saw Alfred each year as he returned to duck hunting, and she grew up. She had her eye on him and perhaps, she was why he returned.

All those years to go duck hunting! Jessie was prodigious when she

Accompanied her father who collected rents for his land, she went along and

realized how much she enjoyed those early business times. The Ball family

was one of the oldest in Virginia and although not wealthy, they were sure

That Jessie would be well-educated. By 1902 Jessie completed her education

and qualified as a teacher. First, in Virginia in a two-room schoolhouse, wherein

education was allowed for white children but separated from black children.

She learned a cultural norm that would prove a problem in Jessie’s later life.  

Growing up, Jessie involved herself in all activities of her age and

even seemed to like a young man, but that didn’t last. She reasoned that she

was more interested in older men. When she went to San Diego for

a teaching position, there was not long enough that when she learned

That Alfred’s wife had died, she declared herself to him via letter.

They found each other and soon after, Alfred and Jessie married.

Jessie went to work. Soon after they married, she organized an event

 That brought DuPont relatives to come and visit, maybe celebrate!

They would get to meet each other as well as Alfred’s new wife, Jessie.

Next, Jessie wanted to know about Alfred’s business -- and so it was

arranged that she would go to meetings, meet business partners,

visit places of his business. Also, she could hire special business

men and learn about business, Alfred’s business. She learned so well that soon she was invited to sit on boards of directors,

of banks and other businesses Alfred owner. She had started a business

of her own when she was a teacher and with added learning that

business flourished so well it became a famous source of funding

other nonprofits. She was especially deft at handling businesses

where disputes created confusion instead of business. During World War II,

as president of the St. Joe Paper Co., she noticed the leftover

fibers from the paper manufacture could be woven into fabric.

Blankets were made for those in England, cold from the war.

In those days in the South, it was unusual for a woman to play such an important role in the business world. Jessie was the exception.

Alfred’s great project was one that Jessie finished for him after his

death. The Alfred I. DuPont Institute for Crippled Children in Delaware was

completed in 1951.

Because Jessie was from the South, she believed in the

separation of white and blacks.

Regarding it, she met a problem that affected her business dealings.

As she had handled most problems in business, she handled those

in a responsible way.

Jessie Ball duPont died in her sleep in 1970. She lies buried next to her husband in Delaware. Their romance was complete.

Jessie’s foundation is at 40 E. Adams St. in Jacksonville.