Body of Missing Atlanta Teacher Found in Lake Oconee After Month-Long Search

Gary Jones, a beloved educator, was recovered near the spot where his fiancée Joycelyn Wilson was found dead following their February boating trip.

Gary Jones, a Westminster Schools teacher and coach, was found 45 feet underwater in Lake Oconee on March 9, a month after he and his fiancée Joycelyn Wilson went missing during a boating trip.
Wilson, a Spelman College instructor, was discovered the day after their disappearance on February 8, with her body located near their empty boat and some of Jones' belongings.
The search for Jones involved extensive efforts, including sonar technology, cadaver dogs, helicopters, and volunteers from multiple states, before being suspended on March 3 due to challenging conditions.
Jones' body was ultimately located by search-and-recovery expert Keith Cormican using advanced sonar equipment, which proved effective in the lake's difficult underwater terrain.
Both Jones and Wilson were highly regarded educators, and their loss has deeply impacted their respective school communities and families, who are now planning memorial services.