Dorothy Wylie Jones

Longtime Athens, GA, resident Dorothy Wylie Jones, age 66, passed away unexpectedly July 30, 2024, at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens. While her passing was unexpected, she had battled diabetes and complications from it for close to 30 years.

Born January 14, 1958, in Montgomery, AL, to Margaret Sanders Wylie and Stanley F. Wylie, Dorothy grew up in Montgomery, attending St. James School, graduating in 1975, and later receiving her undergraduate degree from Huntingdon College, both in Montgomery. After a brief stint of teaching at a high school in Montgomery, she went on to graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving her master’s in medieval literature.

Dorothy met her husband Charles “Chuck” Jones in 1985 when she was working for the Convention & Visitors Division of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, and Chuck was working at a hotel. They immediately began dating. When Chuck moved to Jekyll Island, GA, in 1986, she moved to nearby Brunswick, GA, soon afterwards and served as director of tourism for the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Commission. She and Chuck were married in Brunswick in 1990, and she later worked at an area hotel in sales and eventually ended up going back into teaching at McIntosh County Academy in nearby Darien, GA.

Dorothy and Chuck’s two sons, Joshua Browning and Caleb Austen, were born in 1995 and 1996, respectively. In late 1996, Dorothy and her family moved to Athens, where she lived until her passing. After moving to Athens, she soon became a teacher again at Hilsman Middle School, also in Athens, where she taught primarily eighth-grade English for 22 years, retiring in 2020. Dorothy was a very popular teacher and was loved dearly by many of her students. While at Hilsman, she was recognized for her superior teaching, receiving numerous awards. Everywhere she went in Athens, she’d run into former students, who were always so delighted to see her. She had such a close bond with some students, and they often referred to her as "Momma."

Dorothy had an extremely close relationship with her sons. She was not a traditional mom, but the best mom her boys could ever ask for. As for a wife, she was the perfect match for Chuck. Dorothy was always so loving and supportive of both Chuck and their sons.

She loved reading and watching crime drama series, such as "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Dorothy had a real passion and love for animals, especially strays. She always had a cat or dog, often both at the same time.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Sanders Wylie; and her father, Stanley F. Wylie.

She is survived by husband, Charles "Chuck" Jones of Athens; sons, Joshua Browning Jones (Maura) of Decatur, GA and Caleb Austen Jones (Grace) of Tucker, GA; and first cousin, Emily Adams of Elmore, AL.

A visitation will occur 10:00-11:45 a.m., a memorial/celebration of life service at 12:00 noon, with John Walker, Executive Pastor of Administration & Pastoral Care at Beech Haven Church in Athens, officiating, followed by a reception, all events being on Saturday, August 10, at The Classic Center in downtown Athens. A graveside ceremony with family will occur at Post Oaks Springs Baptist Church in Alexandria, AL, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association and the Athens Area Humane Society. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to The Classic Center and dear friends who have been so helpful in this grieving time.

Bernstein Funeral Home and The Classic Center are in charge of arrangements.