Latest news with #GaryJones
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Crews searching Lake Oconee for missing swimmer
Crews are searching Lake Oconee on Friday for a man who went under while swimming on Thursday night. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that a 54-year-old man was trying to swim across Collins Cove when he went under. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They were called to the lake just before 10 p.m. Crews used sonar to search until after midnight. They returned at 7 a.m. on Friday morning. The man's identity has not been released. TRENDING STORIES: Risk for strong to severe storms today, damaging wind gusts and hail possible Zelle confirms issues with payments platform across US Georgia deputy released from the hospital after being shot in the face Earlier this year, a pair of teachers vanished while boating on Lake Oconee. Joycelyn Wilson and her fiancé Gary Jones disappeared in February. Wilson's body was recovered the next day, but crews searched the lake for a month to find Jones' body. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man dead after being shot multiple times in Clarkston, DCPD investigating
The DeKalb County Police Department is investigating the shooting death of a man Friday morning. Police say at 1:48 a.m., they responded to a report of a shooting in the 6600 block of Hesters Court. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When they arrived, they found a man who was shot multiple times. The victim was taken to the hospital, however, he died from his injuries. Police say their investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. TRENDING STORIES: Gary Jones: Homegoing scheduled for teacher recovered from Lake Oconee 73 days into 2025 and already 140 plane crashes in US, 4 in Georgia Be weather aware: Severe storms likely this weekend with potential for large hail, tornadoes Anyone with information on what led to the shooting can send an anonymous tip to DeKalb County Police through the free Tip411 app or by texting 'DKPD' to 847411, followed by the tip. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gary Jones: Homegoing scheduled for teacher recovered from Lake Oconee
The family of a Westminster teacher whose body was recovered from Lake Oconee have announced memorial service plans for the beloved educator. Gary Jones disappeared on Feb. 8 while boating on Lake Oconee with Joycelyn Wilson, his fiancée who was a Spelman College professor. Crews recovered Wilson's body the next day. It wasn't until weeks later that a specialized dive team from out of state found Jones' body. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jones will be remembered during a celebration of life service in Riverdale on March 20. His homegoing is scheduled for the next day at Elizabeth Baptist Church. The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations are made to his son's college fund. You can make a donation at using code L48-Y97. RELATED STORIES: Westminster community mourns loss of Coach Gary Jones after body recovered from Lake Oconee Family of missing teacher 'can finally grieve' after Gary Jones' body pulled from Lake Oconee Body of beloved teacher found a month after vanishing on Lake Oconee Family of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee releases statement Channel 2 Action News followed the extensive search for Jones that lasted several weeks. Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes spoke with friends and family of Jones after he was found. His brother, Mike Jones, says these have been some of the worst days of his family's lives. 'My parents can finally grieve now that Gary is coming home,' he said. Bekitembe Eric Taylor told Fernandes that he graduated with Gary Jones from West Lake High School in 1993 and Clark Atlanta University four years later. 'He was one of the people who was not only great in sports and great at academics but his character was always solid. He spoke to everybody,' Taylor remembered. 'I really hope none of the people who said anything negative about him ever have to experience what it's like to wait almost a month to find your friend.' Taylor said the best way to honor the teacher's memory is to get out and help someone, something Gary Jones always aspired to do. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Family of missing teacher ‘can finally grieve' after Gary Jones' body pulled from Lake Oconee
After a month of searching Lake Oconee, Gary Jones' body has finally been recovered. Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes spoke with friends and family of the beloved Westminster teacher who say it has been a difficult month. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Jones and his fiancée, Joycelyn Wilson, vanished while boating on Lake Oconee in early February. Wilson's body was recovered the next day. Mike Jones says these have been some of the worst days of his family's lives. 'My parents can finally grieve now that Gary is coming home,' he said. RELATED STORIES: Body of beloved teacher found a month after vanishing on Lake Oconee Sheriff says despite speculation, he believes missing teacher is still in Lake Oconee Lake Oconee search: Channel 2 gets exclusive look at equipment being used to find missing teacher Wallet, credit cards found in boat of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee Family of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee releases statement Bekitembe Eric Taylor told Fernandes he graduated with Gary Jones from West Lake High School in 1993 and Clark Atlanta University four years later. 'He was one of the people who was not only great in sports and great at academics but his character was always solid. He spoke to everybody,' Taylor remembered. 'I really hope none of the people who said anything negative about him ever have to experience what it's like to wait almost a month to find your friend.' Taylor said the best way to honor the teacher's memory is to get out and help someone, something Gary Jones always aspired to do. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Gary Jones' body was taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters in DeKalb County where investigators will perform an autopsy.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Buckhead community remembers beloved school teacher found on Lake Oconee
For many in the Westminster family—Gary Jones was a beloved teacher, colleague, and friend. For Whitney and Dorsey Farr, Jones's impact cannot be measured. 'He has had an impact on all of our children,' Whitney Farr said. 'He is going to be terribly missed.' He taught one child physics, another he coached in basketball; and for their oldest child Catherine, he encouraged her to join the track team even with cerebral palsy, showing up every day with a golf cart to help her get to practice. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'So, Gary in ninth grade told me I would come up and pick up Katherine every day before practice and bring her down for you,' Whitney Farr noted. But then, on February 8 — Gary and his fiancée disappeared while out on Lake Oconee. 'Obviously, we were devastated,' Whitney Farr said. What followed was a week-long search—using boats—cadaver dogs, and special equipment to find the missing teacher. 'As days pass by, it becomes more and more difficult to hold out hope,' Dorsey Farr said. RELATED STORIES: Sheriff says despite speculation, he believes missing teacher is still in Lake Oconee Lake Oconee search: Channel 2 gets exclusive look at equipment being used to find missing teacher Wallet, credit cards found in boat of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee Search crews say it could be weeks before locating coach missing in Lake Oconee Family of teacher who vanished on Lake Oconee releases statement On Sunday, Gary Jones' body was found, the news hitting the families he impacted hard. 'We had some tears and talked about how we were at peace,' Whitney Farr said. But for those who had kids taught or coached by him—Gary Jones memory will live on—in the lessons he taught them and how he lived. 'Just thank you for all that he gave to our community, and I know we are not the only ones who feel that way,' Whitney Farr said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
