Jack Thomas Wynn, Ph.D.

Jack Thomas Wynn Ph.D. of Dahlonega, GA, was born on August 16, 1940 in Hawkinsville, GA. He died on 13th of September 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd E. and Martha Reynolds Wynn; and by his wife of 45 years, Mary Frank Clonts Wynn, RN-C.

He is survived by his daughter Mary Catherine Chamness, son-in-law David Chamness and their sons, Allen and Michael Chamness of Hayes, VA; son Thomas A. Wynn Ph.D. and his daughter-in-law Christy M. Foran Ph.D. and their children Zoe and Aaron Wynn of Lexington, MA; daughter Margaret E. Wynn of Fairburn, GA; brother James R. Wynn of Atlanta; and long time friend and companion Margaret B. Jenkins of Dahlonega, GA.

Wynn served as a photographer in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from Georgia State College in 1968 and earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Missouri in 1975. He served as Forest Archaeologist with the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest for over 20 years, and where he directed field archaeology volunteers each summer through the Passport In Time program. Wynn always showed a passion for education and in 1992 he began teaching anthropology part time at North Georgia College where he helped develop an Anthropology- Archeology program which continued after he retired from teaching in 2015. Wynn is fondly remembered by the many students he taught and assisted over the years.

Wynn was a loving father and spent many hours, while his children were in school, participating in their varied schools’ band and soccer boosters’ clubs. Wynn was also very active in a variety of community groups such as publishing a newsletter for the Lions Club in Gainesville and the Seniors over Sixty and Meals on Wheels in Dahlonega. Later in life Wynn took up running in road races, and enjoyed placing high in his senior age group. Wynn’s passion for cultural resources and Archeology came through in the many organizations he actively participated in throughout the state including the Friends of Scull Shoals, the Blue Ridge Archeology Guild and the Lumpkin County Historical Society in Dahlonega, GA.

Wynn will be remembered for his ability to make friends instantly and he never passed up an opportunity to strike up a conversation with anyone he met. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the non-profit ConnectAbility, Inc., in Dahlonega, or to the Anthropology Scholarship Fund 5140 via the University of North Georgia Foundation.
The family will receive friends any time from 1-4 pm on Saturday September 21st. at Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Highway 19 N. in Dahlonega. Family members and close friends will begin sharing special words and memories at 2 pm after which all who want to speak are welcome to share.