John A. Delany

John Alan “Jack” Delany, 76, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Lawver Elton Delany and Helen Kirschner Delany. Jack spent his youth in Massachusetts, Florida, and San Diego, California. As a teenager, Jack won an art award presented by William Hana of Hanna-Barbera. Jack studied art under Guy Williams and was a Teaching Assistant to Wayne Thiebaud. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of California at Davis, where he met his lovely wife Marcia and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. On June 14, 1969, Jack and Marcia got married, bought an Austin Healy Sprite and moved to Georgia, all on the same day! Jack served honorably in the United States Army in the Signal Corps where trained soldiers headed for Vietnam, while stationed at Fort Gordon. Jack earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia and began his career teaching art. Jack taught art at Sand Bar Ferry Junior High School in Augusta and at Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School in Washington. Jack loved teaching others about art and his students meant the world to him. Jack was selected Star Teacher in 1993 and received a recognition from Truett Cathy of Chick-fil-A for being an outstanding educator. Jack loved contributing artwork to his community. He and his students painted the mascot on the High School football field before games, made numerous signs and murals around the old High School, and painted backdrops for the Little Theatre. One of Jack’s pleasures later in life was running into his former students around town. After he retired from teaching, he enjoyed painting French landscapes and traveled with his wife to France several times. Jack had a wonderful sense of humor. If you were fortunate enough to know Jack, chances are that he kept you laughing. The most important thing to Jack was his family. Jack was a Christian, and he was called home on October 22, 2020, after he lost his battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years Marcia, of Washington; his daughter Gina Gay (Ron), of Buford, GA; and his daughter Joanna Delany (Lawson Blanton), of Columbia, S.C. Jack was a beloved husband, father, brother, and father-in-law and he was a beloved papa to his grandchildren Jack and Jessie Gay. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Jack was predeceased by his sister Diane Delany and brother Jim Delany. Graveside services will be held at Washington Wilkes Memorial Gardens on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 11:00 AM, with Rev. Mark Outlaw officiating. Jack was a devoted animal lover, and fed many a stray “little guy trying to make a living.” Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington Wilkes Animal Shelter, 358 Brown Rd., Washington, GA Masks or social distancing will be required. Hopkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.