Official Obituary of
John Donaldson
September 22, 1925 ~ March 20, 2018 (age 92) 92 Years Old
John Donaldson Obituary
John Donaldson, 92, passed away on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at home under the care of Heartland Hospice.
He was born in Jesup, Georgia on September 22, 1925 to the late John Walker and Carolyn Breen Donaldson. John was an honorable and caring man who had a successful life and career in football both as a player and as a coach during the years 1946 - 1982. Playing first string halfback in Jesup all four of his High School years, he was elected captain in his Senior Year. He was the first to earn All - Southern Honorable Mention from the South Georgia Football Association. John served in the United States Navy during WWII where he was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and played football on the U.S. Navy football team at only eighteen years old. He was selected as one of three most outstanding young players of all the service teams. Upon leaving the service, John played first string at the University of Georgia throughout his college career, even scoring ten touchdowns in his freshman year. He was selected the most outstanding freshman in the SEC by the New York Times. John was also ranked as one of the best ninety players in the 124 year history of the Georgia - Florida games by the Florida Times Union. He was number 51.
After graduation from the University of Georgia, John went on to play professional football, playing in the Los Angeles Dons and the Chicago Hornets in the 1950’s before his return to Jesup where he became head football coach. His teams won two state championships, 1954 and 1959, and many district and regional championships. After helping organize the Jesup Jaycees, John served as the first sports chairman and encouraged the Jaycees to help build a new stadium. The idea was supported by the Board of Education and the community.
After his team won the 1959 State Championship, he joined a new coaching staff at the University of Florida under the leadership of Ray Graves. When Vince Dooley went to Georgia as head coach, he brought John onboard to coach the offensive backfield. During this five year period, Georgia won two SEC Championships and played in a bowl every year. John always remembered Jesup when recruiting for the University of Georgia and had successfully recruited many players from Jesup during his tenure. He diligently supported his players by helping them with scholarships, coaching or teaching positions and sometimes even personal problems.
John was inducted into the Wayne County and the Georgia Sports Halls of Fame. He was voted Coach of the Year for the State of Georgia twice and the Wayne County Football stadium bears the name Donaldson - Madray Field. After his retirement in 1982, John enjoyed his many friends, his family and hunting and fishing. He was a communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife of sixty-two years, Anne Cappelmann Donaldson of Jesup; his sister-in-law, Sally Cappelmann Camacho of Savannah and his brother-in-law, George S. Cappelmann, Jr. of Jesup . A host of close friends, former players and extended family members also survive.
Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Dee Shaffer, the Reverend Steve Larson and Deacon Marty Meuschke officiating.
Interment will be private.
Honorary pallbearers will be former football players and coaches.
Remembrances may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 745 S. Palm St., Jesup, GA 31546.
He was born in Jesup, Georgia on September 22, 1925 to the late John Walker and Carolyn Breen Donaldson. John was an honorable and caring man who had a successful life and career in football both as a player and as a coach during the years 1946 - 1982. Playing first string halfback in Jesup all four of his High School years, he was elected captain in his Senior Year. He was the first to earn All - Southern Honorable Mention from the South Georgia Football Association. John served in the United States Navy during WWII where he was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and played football on the U.S. Navy football team at only eighteen years old. He was selected as one of three most outstanding young players of all the service teams. Upon leaving the service, John played first string at the University of Georgia throughout his college career, even scoring ten touchdowns in his freshman year. He was selected the most outstanding freshman in the SEC by the New York Times. John was also ranked as one of the best ninety players in the 124 year history of the Georgia - Florida games by the Florida Times Union. He was number 51.
After graduation from the University of Georgia, John went on to play professional football, playing in the Los Angeles Dons and the Chicago Hornets in the 1950’s before his return to Jesup where he became head football coach. His teams won two state championships, 1954 and 1959, and many district and regional championships. After helping organize the Jesup Jaycees, John served as the first sports chairman and encouraged the Jaycees to help build a new stadium. The idea was supported by the Board of Education and the community.
After his team won the 1959 State Championship, he joined a new coaching staff at the University of Florida under the leadership of Ray Graves. When Vince Dooley went to Georgia as head coach, he brought John onboard to coach the offensive backfield. During this five year period, Georgia won two SEC Championships and played in a bowl every year. John always remembered Jesup when recruiting for the University of Georgia and had successfully recruited many players from Jesup during his tenure. He diligently supported his players by helping them with scholarships, coaching or teaching positions and sometimes even personal problems.
John was inducted into the Wayne County and the Georgia Sports Halls of Fame. He was voted Coach of the Year for the State of Georgia twice and the Wayne County Football stadium bears the name Donaldson - Madray Field. After his retirement in 1982, John enjoyed his many friends, his family and hunting and fishing. He was a communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife of sixty-two years, Anne Cappelmann Donaldson of Jesup; his sister-in-law, Sally Cappelmann Camacho of Savannah and his brother-in-law, George S. Cappelmann, Jr. of Jesup . A host of close friends, former players and extended family members also survive.
Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Dee Shaffer, the Reverend Steve Larson and Deacon Marty Meuschke officiating.
Interment will be private.
Honorary pallbearers will be former football players and coaches.
Remembrances may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 745 S. Palm St., Jesup, GA 31546.
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