Inside Erin And Ben Napier’s Special Connection With Their Alma Mater

During a camera confessional for “Home Town,” Ben Napier moves from tough to teary, talking about how Jones College is naming a building after him and his wife, Erin. He begins, “It’s not so much an honor for us,” before trying to hold it together, eventually continuing, “Our grandparents, our parents, but then our daughters.” Jones College isn’t just special to the HGTV celebs, but also to their family.

In the HGTV episode, the Laurel Mercantile co-owner notes, “We had our first date in the student union. Everyone on both sides of our family went to school here.” Reportedly, the parents and grandparents of the couple also call the community college their alma mater. Erin confesses that, hopefully, their daughters, Helen and Mae, will attend the school someday as well.

The couple was at Jones College to renovate a historic faculty housing building that was once the residence of the college’s overseer, which they refer to as the “Old President’s Home.” Its current inhabitants, Ginny and Jon Ryan, are connected to the school, as Jon serves as the president’s Chief of Staff. Erin shared a few gorgeous photos of the renovation on Instagram, captioning the snaps, “@jones_college will always be home for everyone who leaves it.”