Built to Last: The Life, Faith, and Legacy of Jessie Earl McConico Sr.

July 27, 1945 – January 18, 2012

In honor of my grandfather’s birthday, I want to share a personal story of an ancestor that shares my blood. To know my grandfather Jessie Earl McConico Sr. was to know a man defined by devotion to his faith, his family, and the soil of Washington County, Alabama. Born in Leroy on July 27, 1945, to Jessie and Linnie Earl McConico, Jessie grew up rooted in the values of hard work and community. He graduated from Prestwick High School in the Class of 1965, embarking on a life that would leave a permanent mark on everyone around him.

Roots and Family Foundation

Out of all the titles he held, being the leader and anchor of our family was the role he cherished most. For 43 beautiful years, he walked side-by-side with my grandmother, Willie Inez McConico.

When Jessie Earl received an inheritance from his grandparents, he used those resources to purchase a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Leroy. Our family headquarters has since been converted into a 5-bedroom 2-bathroom house.

Our family home became the foundational headquarters of where he and my grandmother raised their eight children—Gerald, Veronica, Jessie Jr., Tora "Nikki", Jessica, Sarah, Joshua and Patrick—passing down the exact values of faith, dignity, and love that ruled his own life.

A Pillar of the Community: A Lifetime of Dedication

For nearly 40 years, my grandfather was a steady, dependable presence at Olin Chemical Corporation in McIntosh. But as hard as he worked on the job, his true calling was serving God and his community.

Throughout Washington and Clarke counties, he was known as a leader who truly walked the walk earning several humanitarian awards. At Saint Union Missionary Baptist Church in Leroy, he was a pillar. Over the years, he stepped up to serve in almost every role imaginable: Chairman of the Deacon Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Church Treasurer, and a fixture on the food committee. If there was a need in the church, Deacon McConico was always there to take care of it.

My grandfather’s heart for people extended far beyond the church doors. He was a true community activist who worked tirelessly to uplift Leroy and Washington County. He lent his wisdom and time to the Board of Directors for the Washington County Department of Human Resources, helped keep his hometown vibrant through the Leroy Beautification Committee, and proudly supported the local youth on the Leroy Basketball Tipoff Club.

Building a Family Business & Living Legacy

When my grandfather started McConico’s Lawn Service, it was born out of his signature work ethic and love for a hard day's work. Even while working full-time at Olin and serving his church and community, he turned that lawn service into a classroom for his sons and his mentees.

Starting when they were young, he brought them along to work by his side. Out on those hot Alabama mornings, he taught them so much more than how to run a mower, edge a sidewalk, or rake up a yard. Through his daily example, he taught them self-discipline, pride in your work, accountability, and the real value of an honest dollar. He made sure they understood that every single yard they touched was a direct reflection of the McConico name.

That hands-on upbringing created a bond that time couldn't break. Today, his children and grandchildren still work side-by-side to keep McConico’s Lawn Service alive and thriving. Every lawn we cut, every edge we line up, and every happy customer in our community is a living tribute to Jessie Earl McConico Sr. We are proud to carry on his entrepreneurial spirit and keep his vision growing.

Never Forgotten

When my grandfather passed away on January 18, 2012, at the University of Alabama Medical Facility in Birmingham at 66 years old, just eight months after earning my Bachelor’s degree. He left us an incredible inheritance more valuable than money: an unwavering faith, a quiet strength, eight loving children, eight plus proud grandchildren, and a community that was forever changed for the better because he lived in it. To this day, his absence is deeply felt. But every time we fire up a mower, walk into church, or gather as a family, his spirit lives on in us. Happy Birthday Jessie Earl McConico Sr.

Written By: Jessica McConico