Jewell Phillips Herzog, born in Stevens, Texas on January 15th, 1894, attended Sam Houston Normal Institute (SHNI) from 1911 to 1913 and received a State Permanent Certificate and a Diploma on July 26th, 1913. During her time at Sam Houston Normal Institute, now Sam Houston State University, Jewell was a member of the YWCA Basketball Team and of the SHNI Pierian Society (a women’s society for fine arts). She later earned a Diploma from Thorp Springs Christian College, in Throp Springs, Texas, on May 18th, 1916.

Jewell married Edwin August Herzog on August 22nd, 1923, and had one daughter, Edna Sue Johnson, in 1932. She was a devout member of the Highland Oaks Church of Christ, for many decades. Jewell's husband passed on November 28th, 1970, and she never remarried.

By the time of her death at 110 years of age on May 10th, 2004, Jewell Phillips Herzog gained the titles of oldest congregation member of her church and oldest living Sam Houston Normal Institute Alumnus, as well as being one of the oldest living people in the United States.