George and Rose Jackson Polatty Endowment
Supporting the Families at RUMC with RUMC Worship Arts
George and Rose were a pivotal part of Roswell and through their tireless community dedication, together, they made Roswell a wonderful place to raise a family. Family was most important to them and the RUMC church community was the center of their lives. They appreciated the church and its worship arts ministry so much that they established an endowment for generations to enjoy.
Meet George and Rose
George Polatty Sr. and Rose Crystal Jackson married on November 27, 1942, they had four children, George Junius Polatty Jr. and Robert Wilmot Polatty, lawyers in Roswell and Dawsonville, Richard James Polatty, geologist and naturalist guide in Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands, and Rose Crystal Polatty, physician in Richmond, Virginia.
They loved family and loved planning trips with the children and grandchildren to show them the USA and foreign lands. He loved trains and had traveled on the worlds most famous ones. She was known as the “daughter of Roswell” though all her community support. He served as the City of Roswell Attorney. They loved the church, Roswell United Methodist, where they were trustees, he was the charter president of the Methodist Men’s Club, and they were Sunday School teachers during the years. Together they were a power couple to help make Roswell the beautiful city it is today.
September 17, 1922, marked the birth arrival of Rose Crystal Jackson to Roswell. Her maternal Sweeny family were wagon-train Colorado pioneers. Her paternal Jackson family were South Carolina cotton farmers and cotton mill operators dating back to the 17th century. Her father, James Wilmot Jackson, operated the Roswell Mills and her mother, Esther Sweeny Jackson, was Roswell's beloved educator of three generations of children.
Born in Evans, Georgia on July 8, 1919 to William Ernest and Margie Lillian Mitchell Polatty.
Rose and a group of students at the Esther Jackson School Library Dedication.
Rose Jackson Polatty shaking the hand of Monroe Kimbel, the president of University of Georgia.
Rose was a charter member and President of the Roswell Woman's Club, charter member and President of the Roswell Garden Club, charter member and President of the North Fulton Council of Garden Clubs, and lifetime member of the Garden Club of Georgia. She also was Bicentennial Chairman, City of Roswell, Chairman of the Altar Guild RUMC, charter member of the Roswell Historical Society, and Chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission of Roswell. She was truly a daughter of Roswell.
Originally from Evans, Georgia and graduated from Evans High School as valedictorian in 1936. George received his AB and LLB degrees from the University of Georgia where he was editor of the Georgia Law Review and a member of the Gridiron Society.
In World War II, George served in the Judge Advocate General Corps, U.S. Army, in the Philippines as a member of General Douglas MacArthurs staff. He was a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, having served as Commander, 213th JAG Detachment, Headquarters, 81st U.S. Army Reserve Command. Following active duty in World War II, Mr. Polatty was employed as Head of Contracts Section, Third Army, Ft. McPherson, Georgia.
Rose was Executive Secretary of the Atlanta Boy Choir and was widely credited with helping to save the tenure of Robert Shaw at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra by her impassioned letters to the Atlanta newspapers and the Symphony Board explaining the importance of such a master to the Symphony and the City. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Arts Council and Georgia Conservancy, and was a charter member of the High Museum of Art and a charter member of PEO Chapter AA Georgia.
George was active in the Georgia Municipal Association and had served as chairman of the City Attorneys Section. He was charter president of the Roswell Lions Club, charter member of the Roswell Historical Society, charter member of the High Museum, and charter member of the North Fulton Bar Association. He was also a member of the American Bar Association and the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Other memberships reflected his concern for the environment, historic preservation, the arts, and humanitarian interests.
Rose was valedictorian of the Class of 1939 of Milton High School. Rose was the Atlanta Journal Cup recipient at Milton. Rose won the state-wide competition for the Best Essay on the importance of the signing of the U.S. Constitution by the state of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, on the 150th anniversary of the signing.
Rose was a journalism major, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Georgia, and gave the university a lifetime of service. Rose served as President, Class of 1943 Alumni, Board Manager of the UGA Alumni Society, Vice-President of the Alumni Society, and Chairwoman and Moderator of seminars on world policies including Secretary of State of the United States and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military.
George practiced law 60 years, 40 of which he was City Attorney for the City of Roswell. The Roswell Legal Department was dedicated to him in 1994 in recognition and appreciation of his years of faithful service.
George Julius Polatty, Sr.
July 8, 2019 - May 6, 2003
Rose Crystal Jackson Polatty
September 17, 1922 - November 30, 2015
In Memory
“Rose was a a truly talented and gifted spirit.”
— Sandra Nowell
Onward to the next part of her journey - likely as a guiding force, as she was here. Such a purely authentic, genuine, giving person is a rarity. She graced all of the lives she touched. Peace and healing thoughts to those who remain behind. She was surely well loved.
— Susan Nickerson
“For all my years in Roswell, the house on the corner of Mimosa was one of my favorite stops. George taught me how to travel without missing a thing and I think he traveled life's road the same way..”
— Janet Russell
My memories of Rose Polatty are of a loving, giving mother, involved in the lives of all young people...parades, school activities, etc. May she rest in peace.
— Linda Mansell Martin
“Uncle George was an example for all of us. He was very thoughtful and always remembered our daughters during Christmastime. He was indeed an extraordinary man who experienced life to the fullest.”