Janette Boone Younkin

Immediate family surviving Ms. Younkin are her son, William E.Younkin,Sr. (Sharlotte) of Cecil, AL. and her daughter, Laura F. Younkin now of Gainesville and formerly of Atlanta; two grandchildren, William E. Younkin, Jr. of Cecil, AL and Michelle Y. Blount (Ronald) of Montgomery and two great-grandsons, Charles T. Blount and Samuel D. Blount.

She is also survived by her brother, James B. Boone, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Farrior Boone of Tuscaloosa, AL. and three nieces, Martha B. Cobbold of Knebworth, England; Caroline B. Rockefeller of Little Rock, AK; Catherine G. Boone of Oxford, MS; and two nephews, Kenneth S. Boone of Alexander City, AL and J. Buford Boone, III of Tuscaloosa, six great-nieces and nephews and many beloved cousins.

Ms. Younkin was born in Macon, Georgia on October 1, 1930.  Her parents were the late Frances Herin Boone and James Buford Boone, Sr.  Her early childhood and education were in Macon where her father was a reporter for a Macon newspaper. She moved with her family to Cincinnati, OH, Milwaukee, WI, Eau Claire, WI and Washington, D. C. during the WWII period while her father served as an FBI Agent.  She returned to Macon with her parents following WWII when her father became Editor of The Macon Telegraph.

Following her marriage, Ms. Younkin lived seven years in Washington, D.C.  In 1954 she moved with her two children to Tuscaloosa, AL, where her father was Publisher of The Tuscaloosa News. 

She raised her children in Tuscaloosa, working at The Tuscaloosa News in various positions that eventually were Associate Editor and a family stockholder of the publishing company of that newspaper. In 1977 she retired from The Tuscaloosa News and her interest in the publishing company was purchased by the company.

In her retirement, Ms. Younkin returned to school at The University of Alabama where she graduated Cum Laude, earning BA degrees in English and History. She had a deep interest in both areas and continued her studies in both areas at the Masters level

Throughout her life she had an interest in others, was a mentor and supportive friend to many, and devoted major time to her parents as they reached older ages.  Her passions for travel, gardening, animals and cooking for friends or family were surpassed only by her life-long love of reading.  

In 1999 she moved to Atlanta to be nearer her daughter and son-in-law, Richard G. Vollaro.  Ms. Younkin and her daughter, who retired after 27 years with The Coca-Cola Company, moved to Gainesville in 2014, following the death of her son-in-law.   

For those wishing to honor Ms. Younkin the family suggests donations to Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, 2150 Limestone Parkway, Ste. 222 Gainesville, GA 30501 or to their favorite charity.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.