Karen J. Gunnels

Mrs. Karen J. Gunnels, age 59 of Griffin, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Karen was born October 11, 1965, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Karen was beautiful inside and out. She was a loving wife and mother. She was also a devoted friend. Karen was a Journalism graduate from Louisiana Tech. She went on to get her masters in English, as well as Education. Karen first worked at Ruston Daily Leader. After a few years of working at the paper, Karen took a teaching job in Spalding County, GA. Karen taught for several years at both Griffin and Spalding High Schools before returning to her true passion of journalism at the Griffin Daily News in 2016. As a reporter there, Karen won top Awards from the Georgia Press Association year after year. She was promoted to Managing Editor in 2021 at the Griffin Daily News. Even then, she continued to be a fearless and relentless reporter, uncovering corruption at the highest levels of local government and covering crime and courts, where she reported on some of the biggest trials in Spalding County, GA. The only thing Karen loved more than her work was her family - husband Darren, daughter Katie, and son Jacob. Karen is also survived by her brother, Ryan Jones, and her mother, Bettye Bogue Jones, both of Griffin. She is also survived by her Griffin family: Royce Gunnels, Blake Gunnels, Susan Gunnels Hodgson and husband Peter. She was preceded in death by her father, Franky Cleveland Jones, grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bogue, and Bernie Gunnels. Karen will be missed terribly by all who were fortunate enough to know her. She was a beautiful, loving, kind, sweet, generous, hard-working, funny, stubborn soul. She was also a ravenous fan of Rick Springfield, whom she saw in concert numerous times, meeting him several times. Karen was original and loved by many. There will never be another like her. Services will be Saturday, May 24, 2025, starting with a 10:00 AM visitation with a funeral service to be held at 11:00 AM at Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Rd., Griffin, GA. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Stepping Stones Educational Therapy Center, 141 Futral Road, Griffin, GA 30224.

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Karen J. Gunnels

October 11, 1965 - May 18, 2025