The Juneteenth Celebration Committee is proud to honor several Grand Marshals this year. For the first time in the history of the celebration, the committee will recognize an entire family, the Jacobs, children of Lew Wallace Jacobs III (“Three”), and Daisy Jacobs. 

The Jacobs family has provided continued commitment and love to the community that stretches beyond decades if not more than a century. In addition, the committee is privileged to honor Ms. Louis Williams, the oldest African American in the city, as Grand Marshal.

The Grand Marshals will be a part of Saturday’s parade, which begins at 9 a.m. and will be honored during the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. at the gazebo on the courthouse lawn.

Janet Jacobs

Janet Jacobs feels fortunate to be a long-time resident of Fayette, where she was born and raised. A graduate of Fayette High School, Central Methodist University, and the University of Missouri, she is President and member of the Board of Directors of Commercial Trust Company. Janet will be the first to tell you that teachers in the Fayette schools, such as Peggy Clatworthy, Fannie Marie Tolson, Luella Rogers, and Alice Burke, inspired and nurtured her interests in history, politics, music, and English literature, and Professors Mary Lee Forderhase, Joseph E. Geist, Richard C. Winegard, and Donald Eidson continued to educate, encourage, and inspire Janet and other students at Central Methodist. It wasn’t the traditional path into the banking business, but as her father always said, “Nothing you learn is ever wasted.” The dedication of these teachers represented more than could be learned in books. 

Janet serves on numerous boards representing many worthwhile causes, including the Central Methodist University Board of Trustees, The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art, the Thompson Foundation for Autism, Missouri United Methodist Foundation, and the Linn Memorial United Methodist Church Board, as well as serving the community through the Fayette Rotary Club and the Fayette Optimist Club.  

Janet’s most recent joy is her grandson Michael Hayes Lafolette, the son of Liza and Wes Lafolette. Although Hayes is growing up in Kansas City, he and his parents are frequent visitors to Fayette, where he will be able to enjoy the familiarity and camaraderie of small-town life.

   Every member of the Jacobs family is a stellar example of what it means to live in and contribute to the Fayette community. Three and Daisy were larger-than-life figures in Fayette whose foremost concerns were helping, teaching, and encouraging others to grow, excel, and contribute to the world around them. In honor of them and so many who have gone before us, it is Janet’s wish for everyone in the Fayette community to grow in understanding, inclusivity, and equity, and the Juneteenth celebration is a meaningful representation of this goal.

Julie (Jacobs) Menees

Julie (Jacobs) Menees is the consummate teacher and coach, whether it is in the classroom, on the court, or at a sewing machine. A lifelong resident of Fayette, Julie’s educational career took her from Fayette High School, where she excelled on the basketball team and in the band, to Central Methodist College, where she played basketball for three years. She moved on to graduate from Stephens College, playing college basketball there and earning her bachelor’s degree in Equine Science. She continued her education at the University of Missouri, receiving a master’s degree in education some years later.

Julie continued her teaching and coaching career in women’s basketball at Central Methodist University and Westran, Harrisburg, and Fayette high schools, passing her skills, philosophy, and passion for the fundamentals along to her student-athletes. Julie’s adjacent careers in retail and banking began during high school at Bob Young’s Purina Feed Store in Fayette and in her college years at Commercial Trust.

Julie and her husband, Fred, owned and operated Hoops Unlimited for several years, providing custom embroidered and screen-printed gear for many local organizations and major retailers.

In retirement, Julie was one of the founders of the Peacemakers, a group of quilters who initially came together to share ideas and their love of quilting. Through their mutual interest in honoring those who have served in the branches of the U.S. military, this group became a driving force in the Quilts of Valor project that honors U.S. veterans who have served their country in war zones. This group has presented 70 handmade quilts to area veterans as recognition and thanks for their service.

Julie and Fred enjoy following all the activities of their grandchildren, Haden and Maya Kelly, and Liam and Beau Menees, the children of Allison Brown and James Kelly, and Garth and Stacy Menees. Julie is very proud that Haden is an All-State Academic and All-Conference student-athlete who will attend Central Methodist next fall on a baseball scholarship.

Julie is grateful for the recognition and thanks the Juneteenth Committee for honoring her as a Grand Marshal. She remembers when her mother, Daisy, and Ms. Fannie Marie Tolson were honored as Grand Marshals. Daisy said it was one of the biggest honors of her life, and Janet, Julie, Jennifer, and Jay agreed.

Jennifer (Jacobs) 

Moorehead

Jennifer (Jacobs) Moorehead has influenced generations of children through a lifetime of teaching in the Fayette and Glasgow school systems. Like her sisters and brother, Jennifer was born and raised in Fayette. A Fayette High School graduate, she earned business and education degrees at William Woods College and Central Methodist. Along the way, her business degree served her well during her employment at Commercial Trust Company, and later, a master’s degree in education from CMU took her to her second career as an elementary school teacher.

Jennifer’s love of teaching was so strong that after her two-year “retirement” from the Fayette schools, she returned to the classroom in the Glasgow elementary school. She has high expectations in the classroom, but her overriding concern is that each student receives a smile, a hug, and encouragement from her each day.  

Jennifer is a lifelong member of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church, serving as Chair of the Administrative Board and a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was also active in the Fayette Chamber of Commerce as an officer and member and in many school-related activities such as Parent Teacher Organization, Community Teachers Organization, and Brownies & Girl Scouts.

Jennifer and her husband Geoff Moorehead, a retired FHS science teacher, counselor, and Athletic Director, are the proud grandparents of Daisey and Gavin Zoeller and Noah Francis, and, of course, their parents Clare Moorehead Zoeller and husband Vincent, and Kate Moorehead Francis and husband Austin.

Jennifer is honored to be a Grand Marshal of the Juneteenth Celebration and wishes to thank and recognize the Committee and everyone who works to bring our community together. 

Jay Jacobs 

Jay Jacobs was born and raised in Fayette. He graduated from Fayette High School in 1988 and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis in 1992.

Following college, Jay returned to Fayette to begin his career at Commercial Trust Company, part of the fourth generation of his family to work at the bank. He was fortunate to learn banking and the importance of community involvement from his grandfather and father. His mother, Daisy, was also a tremendous influence on his life, known around Fayette as always willing to lend a helping hand.

From 1992-1996, Jay was an active member of the Fayette community. He served two terms as president of the Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Fayette Rotary Club, and coached the Fayette Senior Babe Ruth Baseball team, among other commitments. In 1995, he was elected as the youngest-ever member of the Board of Curators of Central Methodist College (now Board of Trustees of Central Methodist University).

In June 1996, he married his wife, Kelly, and they relocated to Washington, D.C., to both pursue master’s degrees. Jay graduated in May 1998 with an MBA from Georgetown University and joined Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) in California. During his 20-year career, he served the company in the U.S. and Europe in various senior roles, his final position being President of the firm.

Though his work and life have taken him far from Fayette at times, he has continuously served as a member of the Commercial Trust Board since 1992, and from his father’s passing in November 1998, he has served as either President or Chair of the Board of the bank. He and his wife’s philanthropy has always focused on Fayette and Howard County as long-time supporters of Central Methodist University, the Fayette school district, the Fayette Area Common Fund, and the annual Holiday House Christmas Toy Drive, among others.

Jay and Kelly have five sons, Quinn, Christian, Henry, Felix, and Angus, and reside in Big Sky, Montana, although they maintain a family farm property outside Fayette. Jay remains a lifelong member of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church. He is deeply grateful to the Juneteenth Celebration Committee for all their work and for the honor of serving as a Grand Marshal in 2023.

Louis Williams

On May 30, 1925, Louis Williams was born in Howard County. She has lived every one of her 98 years in Fayette. She is the mother of six children- Shirley, Ethelene (deceased), Edward, Jessie Sr., Virginia, and James. She has 26 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren. She was born into a family of six other siblings, with one surviving brother, Ira (Lightning) Williams. She also has several nieces and nephews. 

Over the years, she was employed as a domestic worker for Marie Tindall, Morrison Hughes, Wilma Lee, Elizabeth Ferguson, John Burkheimer, Bill Ayres, and numerous others. Ms. Louis is fondly known for her delicious cooking, especially her meatloaf with gravy, light rolls, and tea cakes (fat sugar cookies). She is full of wisdom and love, a woman of great faith. She credits her long life to trusting in God and accepting whatever he sent her way. She is a member of Second Baptist Church and was recently honored as being the oldest member. She has seen many good and bad changes in the world and Fayette, yet her faith in God remains constant.