Jean Vickers Kennedy

Jean Vickers Kennedy passed away on May 3, 2024, just shy of her 84th birthday. Jean was born on May 14, 1940, in Hepzibah, West Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Retha Emma Vickers and the late Eugene Walter Vickers. Her birth name was Emma Jean Vickers, but she later changed it to Jean. Jean grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia and graduated from Washington Irving High School. After high school, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and started her career at BellSouth Communications (now AT&T) in the mail room. Although she never went to college, Jean had a curious mind and was a lifelong learner. During her long career at BellSouth, Jean worked her way up to the position of Manager in the Residential Business Office and retired after 38 years of service. It was at BellSouth that Jean met her future husband, John Oswald Kennedy, who went by Jack, and they married on May 1, 1964. Four years later, they had their only child, Laura Susan Kennedy. Jean was also a wonderful stepmother to Jack’s two children from a prior marriage, Carolyn Kennedy (Rhodes) and Olin Kennedy. Jean and Jack moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia in early 1988 for a promotion that Jean was offered at BellSouth. Jean and Jack were happily married for 24 years until Jack’s death in November of 1988. After Jack’s death, Jean relocated to Dunwoody, Georgia and became an active member of Dunwoody United Methodist Church, where, among other things, she led an exercise class for seniors for many years. Jean was a devoted grandmother to her only grandson, Soren Kennedy Bonander. She had the most positive attitude in life and brightened the lives of all who knew her. She loved animals and during retirement adopted a dog named Buddy that no one else had been willing to keep because of his special needs. She loved playing cards and watching her beloved soap opera, the Young & the Restless. During her retirement years, Jean met Alex Cazzeto and they spent 20 years together in a loving relationship. Jean and Alex enjoyed taking trips to the Georgia and North Carolina mountains, along with Jean’s brother Chuck and his wife Joyce. Jean also had a close relationship with Alex’s three daughters, Marisa Caldwell, Georgi Odom and Chrissy McFairley. Jean is survived by her daughter, Laura Kennedy Bonander, her son-in-law, Jason Carl Bonander, her grandson, Soren Kennedy Bonander, her sister, Shirley Akey, her brother, Charles Milton Vickers, her sister-in-law, Joyce Vickers and her stepdaughter, Carolyn Rhodes. A memorial service in Jean’s honor will be held at Dunwoody United Methodist Church on May 14, 2024, at 1:00pm. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Jean Vickers Kennedy

May 14, 1940 - May 3, 2024