ATL Coach Missing, Spelman Instructor Dies At Lake Oconee

GEORGIA — A Westminster Schools coach remains missing, while the body of a Spelman College instructor was found, after the two disappeared Saturday at Lake Oconee near Wallace Dam, according to authorities and a media report.

Earlier in the day, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday surmised the rainy weather may have stifled the search for the missing coach.

In an update, authorities told Patch that surface searches were limited due to the weather. They were expected to continue the search on Thursday.

Game wardens were first alerted to an empty circling vessel Saturday on the lake. While investigating, authorities identified the owner of the powerless boat and determined two adults had been aboard it earlier in the day, the DNR said.

With the use of SONAR equipment, authorities said they began searching the area. The next day, around 10 a.m., the DNR said the body of 49-year-old Atlanta resident Joycelyn Nicole Wilson was recovered.

Wilson, a senior math instructor at Spelman, had been with the Atlanta college since 2007, college officials said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta.

"We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the many people whose lives she touched," Spelman said in the statement.

A search for the man, identified in the Fox 5 report as Westminster coach Gary Jones, remained ongoing until 6 p.m. Tuesday, the DNR said. Westminster is a private school in Atlanta.

"Gary Jones is a beloved Westminster faculty member, coach and parent. On Sunday, we received word from his family that Gary had gone missing while spending time at an area lake. Our entire community is praying for his safe return and for his family during this difficult moment," Westminster reportedly said in a statement.