Janelle Jones Wilkes passed away on Saturday May 5, 2018 at Magnolia Manor Senior Living in Columbus, GA. Visitation will be Monday May 7, 2018 from 5:30 – 8 PM at Foreman Funeral Home, 1516 Dr. M L K Jr. Expy, Andalusia, AL 36420. A graveside service will be held at 11 AM Tuesday May 8^th at Coldwater Cemetery with Rev. Nathan Daniels officiating the service.

Janelle was born Laura Janelle Jones on April 12, 1934, to V. L. and Lillian Jones in the Coldwater community of Covington County, AL near Andalusia. She graduated from Straughn High School in 1952 and Troy State Teachers College in 1955 with a major in business education. She would later complete her masters of education degree in 1970 at Auburn University.

She married Guy Henry Wilkes of Eufaula, AL in 1955, and together they raised four children. They lived in Hayneville and Lafayette, AL, before settling in Columbus, GA for 31 years. When Janelle retired in 1992, they moved to Lake Martin near Dadeville, AL.

Janelle spent 30 years teaching business education and English. She taught one year at Lanett High (59-60), two years at Central High in Phenix City, AL (61-63), and one semester at McEllhaney Elementary in Columbus (65). Most of her career (65-91) was spent as a Baker High Lion where she taught typing and shorthand and was the V.O.T. (Vocational Office Training) coordinator. For many years, she was also the Senior Class sponsor. She retired in 1992 after one semester at Kendrick High.

She enjoyed fishing, Alabama football, counted cross-stitch embroidery, reading, church activities, and being a member of the Dadeville Darlings Red Hat Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and brother, Dr. Rex Jones. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Wilkes of Columbus, and three sons, Buddy Wilkes and his wife Beth of Andalusia, David Wilkes of Smyrna, GA, and Russell Wilkes and his fiancee’ Jamie Gatlin of Kathleen, GA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Rebekah Lollar, her husband Zac, and their daughters, Adeline, Audrey, Alice and Anne of Tuscaloosa, AL; Sarah Anne Erickson, her husband Joel, and their sons Sager and Spencer of Metairie, LA; Mary Beth Sullivan and her husband Brad of Spanish Fort, AL; Rachel Wilson and her husband Parker of Pensacola, FL; Hannah Martinez-Perez and her husband Roberto of Kathleen, GA; Courtney Wilkes of Warner Robbins, GA; and Zach Wilkes and his fiancee’ Katie Kendrick of Warner Robbins, GA. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Esther Jones of Andalusia, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Flowers will be appreciated or memorial contributions in Janelle’s memory may be made to Coldwater Congregational Church, c/o Mary Janice Cottle, 31303 Cottle Creek Road, Andalusia, AL 36421 or to Fist Baptist Church, P. O. Box 308 Dadeville, AL 36853.