Georgia Burleson (1833-1924)

Georgia Jenkins was a strong willed person, like her husband Rufus.  Their relationship began in 1849 when they met at a Sons of Temperance rally in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas when Georgia was 16 years old.  Rufus Burleson, then 10 years older and pastor of the congregation that was to become First Baptist Church of Houston, was slated to receive a silk banner from the Sons of Temperance.  The banner was presented to him by Georgia.  She evidently made a distinct impression in Rufus and later that year, he made the following entry in his diary, “My mind on one subject is fixed—my manner of life I have resolved to change—if my health and God’s providence permit—I need the sympathy of a pious and lovely woman at all times.”

The daughter of the late Pleasant Cicero and Harriett Ann Daniel Jenkins, Georgia received her secondary education at Judson Female Institute at Marion, Alabama.  Upon her return to Texas, she and Rufus married on January 3, 1853 at Independence, the ceremony performed by their long time friend Henry L. Graves, the first president of Baylor University.  The wedding took place on the Baylor campus.

 Rufus was the natural successor to Baylor President Graves and in 1951, he was selected to serve as president of the university, a post that he was to hold for ten years.  Burleson acknowledged his reliance on Georgia’s advice and counsel in his administrative decisions throughout his career.  They were well matched and Georgia is credited for influencing the expansion of coeducation at Baylor.  Ultimately a disagreement over this same issue would lead to Rufus’ departure in 1861 from the Independence, Texas university and his move to Waco to serve as president of the newer but growing Waco University.  Baylor at Independence always separated male and female students with Baylor Female College having its own board of trustees, something that disturbed Rufus.  Undoubtedly Rufus had a strong following among the professors and upon his resignation and departure from Baylor at Independence, virtually all of the instructors of the male branch of the college went with him to become professors of the Baptist supported Waco University.

 Rufus and Georgia devoted their efforts to developing Waco University.  Georgia served as matron of the second  major structure on the campus, a women's dormitory named in her honor, Georgia Burleson Hall.  Though there were strict rules of propriety for the female students, Georgia and Rufus strongly believed in coeducation which was practiced in the classrooms and in Sunday worship services.  The two universities were merged in 1887 and took the name of the Independence institution.  The men's branch of Baylor moved to Waco.  The women's branch of Baylor at Independence became Mary Hardin-Baylor and was moved to Belton, Texas.

 Rufus and Georgia were married over 48 years until his death at the age of 77 on May 14, 1901.  Following his death, Georgia continued to live in Waco until her death at the age of 90 on June 11, 1924.