JEANNE CONNELL McDONALD's Obituary
PERRY –
Jeanne Connell McDonald, 86, passed away quietly at her home on September 20, 2022. Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Perry on Saturday September 24, 2022. The Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. followed by the Funeral Service at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Robbie Passmore officiating. Interment will be in Perry Memorial Gardens immediately following the service. Flowers will be gratefully accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to Agape Care Hospice, 645 Tallulah Trail, Suite 202, Warner Robins, Georgia 31088.
Jeanne was born on March 26, 1936, in Nashville, Georgia, the third child of the late Alice M. and Sims R. Connell. In 1942, the family moved to Perry with the opening of Robins Air Force Base where both parents were employed. She attended all twelve grades in the present-day Houston County Board of Education building. It was there that she developed her love of music, singing in the Girls’ Trio all four years at Perry High. After winning an academic scholarship and a music scholarship to Valdosta State College, she sang all four years with “The Serenaders,” a double girls’ trio that was eventually changed to a double mixed quartet. They sang all across the Southeast as ambassadors and public relations representatives for the college. In a 1957 contest, Jeanne won the title of Valdosta State College Talent with one of the prizes being an audition for the Lawrence Welk Show. Although she received a very nice letter of encouragement, she was not selected to be on the show. Jeanne graduated Cum Laude in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a music minor. In 1959, she won the title of Miss Perry then went on to place in the Top 10 in Talent in the Miss Georgia pageant. She met the love of her life three months later, Robert McDonald, at her job on Robins Air Force Base. They were married June 5, 1960, and had 3 beautiful daughters. Jeanne enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom for the following six years.
In 1966, Mrs. McDonald began her teaching career at Perry High School in a biology position. In those years, she not only taught science, but also vocational counseling and job placement. She received many awards and much recognition for her work, throughout the county and statewide. Mrs. McDonald loved working with her students, not only in the classroom, but also helping them develop life skills to prepare them for successful careers. One of her most treasured moments was her induction into the Houston County Teacher Hall of Fame in 2012. She retired from teaching in June 1996.
Jeanne was a faithful, devoted member of First Baptist Church of Perry since joining in 1945, singing in the choir for over 60 years. She served as choir treasurer and ministry chairperson for many years. She also led the music in the Senior Adult Department of Sunday School for almost 25 years and served as Department Director for over 10 years. Jeanne taught Sunday School at various age levels through the years, directed the first children’s choir, served on the Jimmy Teresi Scholarship Committee, the Long-Range Planning Committee, the Music Minister Search Committee, and the Benevolence Book Ministry. She led the singing twice a month at the Church Home for the Aged for many years. She had a deep and abiding love for her family, church, music, and many friends.
The Akikta Club was her long-term civic organization where she served in many positions of leadership and was named Outstanding Member of the Year two times. She will be sorely missed by her loving husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Left to cherish the memories they made with Jeanne are her loving and devoted husband, Bob McDonald; her daughters, Karen Taylor (Len), Melanie Francis (Ricky), Cindy Swartz (Rusty); her grandchildren, Robby Taylor, Monika McKellar, Dillon Swartz, and Anna Swartz; her great-grandchildren, Hadley Taylor, Nora Taylor, Darby Taylor, Charlee Swartz, Hudson Swartz, and Avery Tillotson; her sister, Betty Gray; her brother, Jimmy Connell (Coleyne); and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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