On Sunday, March 9 the body of Gary Jones, the Westminster track and field coach, was discovered a month after he and his fianceé, Joycelyn Wilson, mysteriously disappeared during a boating trip on Lake Oconee. Their boat was found spiraling on the water, and not long after, Wilson’s body was recovered, while Jones remained missing.
For weeks, The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office searched the lake for Jones. It was on March 9 that The Associated Press reported he was recovered not far from Wilson. The Putnam County Sheriff, Howard Sills, reported that Jones’ body was found in around 45 feet of water. He concluded that Mr. Jones likely died after the boating accident.
Westminster students have posted multiple stories on Instagram commemorating his death and honoring him with kind and loving messages. John Terry, a previous teacher at Westminster, says, “Gary always had a smile for people at school. He had such a positive impact in the learning environment and an unforgettable cheerful attitude.”
