James Cecil Wynens

James Cecil Wynens, 92, departed this earthly life for his heavenly home after a brief illness Saturday, January 20, 2018. Mr. Wynens was born on September 10, 1925 in Hillsboro, Georgia, the son of William Henry and Emma King Wynens. He graduated from the historic Hillsboro Grammar School and Monticello High School. He honorably served in the US Coast Guard during World War II, building and operating LORAN navigation stations in the Marianas Islands, and also served in the early occupation of Japan. Mr. Wynens graduated from the University of Georgia School of Forestry. He received a horticulture management degree from Southern Technical Institute. He was a registered forester and retired from the Georgia Forestry Commission having served a long career as Chief of Reforestation and retiring as Director of Research. He frequently invented devices to solve various mechanical and horticultural problems. He was recognized as Georgia Forester of the Year by Governor Jimmy Carter. He had a wide variety of interests which he pursued deeply in retirement. He was a licensed amateur radio operator. He was a horticultural expert and researched and experimented with a number of plant species, especially the southern wild azalea, and enjoyed managing his own pine tree farms. He was widely read and he enjoyed storytelling and writing his memoirs and articles for various plant and wildlife publications. Mr. Wynens enjoyed southern gospel and bluegrass music, played the banjo, mandolin, and guitar, and had sung in numerous quartets and on local radio programs in the 1950s. He was deeply devoted to his family. Mr. Wynens was a member of Highland Hills Baptist Church for 57 years and had served as deacon and Sunday School teacher. Mr. Wynens was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers George, Hugh, Marshall, and William, and sister Evelyn. Survivors include his wife Dorothy Heard Wynens and daughter Alisa Rehberg (Ches), grandchildren Gracie and James Rehberg, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Donations may be made in his memory to Crossroads Christian Counseling Center, 144 Pierce Ave, Macon, Georgia, 31204. Hart's Mortuary has the arrangements. A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 28 at 2:00p.m. at Hart's at the Cupola, Peake Road. The family will receive guests after the service. Register online at www.hartsmort.com Hart's at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.