About Jessie Drey

Jessie, born in London of Scottish parents, married Eugene Drey, a successful American stockbroker. The couple settled in Winter Park in 1950. After Eugene’s death, Jessie became a patron of Rollins and other local institutions. Upon her death in 1996, Jessie bequeathed an endowment to the English-Speaking Union’s Central Florida Branch, which she had helped to found. Her objective was to honor her husband by providing funds for educational programs and projects that serve teachers, students, and the Central Florida community. The Drey Shakespeare Institute is one solid manifestation of Jessie Drey’s wish.