Joan Dunn Jones

She was born on March 16, 1931 in Etowah, Tennessee. Joan was the daughter of James King Dunn and Mary Helen Rankin Dunn, both of whom operated businesses in Etowah, TN and both of whom are deceased. She was also preceded in death by a brother, James King “Jakie” Dunn, Jr. in 1993 and her horse, Shorty, in the early seventies. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Nevin Jones; daughters, Jennie Diane Jones Fincher and her husband, Darrell Fincher of Rome, Julie Dunn Jones Cole and her husband, Doug Cole of Dunwoody, GA; son, William Nevin Jones, Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Rome; and grandchildren, Elizabeth Summer Jones of Nashville, William Nevin “Will” Jones III of Oxford, MS, Dustin Copeland Fincher of Rome, Caroline Rankin Fincher of Rome, and Douglas Braden Cole and Samuel Hudson Cole of Atlanta.

Joan graduated from Etowah Tennessee High School in 1948 where she was an outstanding athlete, especially as a basketball player. She was named “Best All-Around Player” and was inducted into the Etowah High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.

After high school, she attended Virginia Intermont College, accompanied by her horse, Shorty, for two years and continued her athletic career as Captain of the team in 1949-1950. In the Fall of 1950, she entered the University of Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education and Science in 1952.

In the Fall of 1952, at the age of 21, she moved to the Rome area and accepted the position of teach/coach at Model High School. As she had previously done, she brought her horse, Shorty, with her. She served as the girl’s varsity basketball coach as well as coach of all the other girl’s varsity sports teams.

Joan decided to make a little change in her career in 1955 and transferred down to the junior high level to teach girls Physical Education and English. She continued to coach girls athletic teams in the various sports at this level.

She continued in this position until she retired in 1985, after 33 years, on the same campus of the old Model School at Shannon. Joan was an outstanding classroom teacher and coach who was highly admired and respected by her students and her peers. She was a strong disciplinarian as well as an instructor. She achieved this by a love for her students and the great respect they had for her.

After moving to the junior high level at Mode in 1955, Joan started dating her then future husband, Dr. Nevin Jones, and they were married on August 26, 1956 in Etowah, TN, resulting in 57 years of blissful happiness and a wonderful family. They joined Rome First Baptist Church together shortly after their marriage and have been members ever since.

She obviously loved sports and coaching. About 1960, she began her volunteer coaching career with the Rome Parks and Recreation Authority that lasted 24 years. During this time, she won 15 local basketball championships, 5 District titles, and 3 State All-Star titles for girls in the 12 -14 age group. She was also very successful coaching softball and track for this group. Many of these girls became high school star basketball players and quite a few received college scholarships. In 1991, Joan was inducted into the Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame. She has also been inducted into the Model High School Sports Hall of Fame. From a personal participation standpoint, Joan played competitive tennis in the ALTA and USTA leagues until after 70 years of age.

Joan served for several summers as manager, lifeguard, and swimming instructor at the Shannon Swimming Pool before it closed, teaching many youngsters and elderly women how to swim. She also taught her children and grandchildren how to swim, usually before they could walk.

She loved the mountains and the beach. The family frequently went camping when the children were young; and in 1967, went on a 30 day camping trip across the Southwest to California and the Northwest.

In 1992, after both had retired, Joan and Nevin purchased a condo on the beach in Florida and have spent many weeks there each year. Joan loved the beach with a passion, especially when the children and or grandchildren could be with her.

Joan was, and is, a great role model for the lives of thousands of students she touched as well as for her own children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

There was a private graveside service at Myrtle Hill cemetery at 11:00 am on Friday, February 14th and a memorial service at Rome First Baptist Church at 1:00 pm on Friday, February 14, 2014, with Dr. Joel Snider and Dr. Floyd Roebuck officiating; followed by visitation with the family in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests donations to First Baptist Church of Rome Foundation, 100 East 4th Avenue, Rome, GA 30161; Etowah L & N Depot and Railroad Museum, 727 Tennessee Avenue, Etowah, TN 37331; Model and Johnson School Foundations, Box 1000, Shannon, GA 30172; or Rome-Floyd Humane Society, 518 Broad St., Rome, GA 30161.

Daniel’s Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Joan Dunn Jones.