College Instructor Dead, Private School Coach Missing After Empty Boat Found on Georgia Lake

Mar. 15, 2025

Gary Jones, left, and Jocelyn Wilson, right.Photo:Gary L. Jones/Facebook; Spelman College

Gary L. Jones/Facebook; Spelman College

The body of a college instructor has been located and a private school coach remains missing after a boat was found empty on a lake in Georgia.

Wilson’s body was found after a boat was found circling near Wallace Dam on Saturday, Feb. 8, authorities said.

Witnesses claimed to have seen two adults, “one male and one female,” on the boat before it was found empty on Saturday.

Lake Oconee in Georgia, where the body of Jocelyn Nicole Wilson was found on Sunday, Feb. 9.Google Maps

Google Maps

Jones and Wilson attended Clark Atlanta University together and were engaged after reconnecting, her childhood friend toldCBS affiliate WANF.

Wilson had been an instructor with Spelman College in Atlanta since 2007,the school’s biographysaid. Most recently, she served as a senior instructor for the Department of Mathematics.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of a highly respected member of the Spelman College community,” school officials said in a statement, WAGA reported. The school noted that Wilson “made an indelible impact on both her students and colleagues.”

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Wilson also served as co-principal investigator and program director for the Mathematics Research and Mentoring Program, which aimed “to increase the number of African-American women who pursue advanced degrees or careers in the mathematical sciences,” according to her biography.

“Wilson loves that she is able to impact women of color in various ways at Spelman College and beyond, in particular in the field of mathematics,” her biography reads.

Jones was the varsity girls and boys track and field coach at Westminster, a private Christian school system, according to WANF.

“Our entire community is praying for his safe return and for his family during this difficult moment,” school officials said in a statement, WAGA and WGXA reported.

Westminster Schools and Spelman College did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

Crews have been using SONAR to search the lake, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Game wardens said “poor weather” kept them from continuing their search on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

“If they get a break from the rain and wind, they will try to search when they can,” officials added.

source: people.com