J. B. Nunn	Notables
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Native Georgian John B. "Jake" Nunn was born in Athens May 5, 1920, the son of Thomas F. Love Nunn and Maebelle Parks Nunn. He spent his youth in Maysville. It was here that "some of the finest people to inhabit this earth" encouraged him to develop his artistic abilities. They were amazed by his ability to draw almost anything—from memory.

After graduating from Maysville High School in 1938, Nunn spent a short time teaching art for the National Youth Administration at Toccoa Falls Institute and Habersham College.

Soon, the Army Air Corps called him for duty. He spent four years in the military--2½ years of which were spent in the Aleutian Islands. During this time Nunn decorated mess halls with his cartoons, which became popular. He designed his squadron’s logo, which was added to planes and other equipment.

After the military, Nunn worked in the Atlanta advertising community as a freelance commercial artist. Some of his clients included the Atlanta Journal/Constitution and Coca-Cola.

Nunn painted "Maysville Spring" as a sample piece to show to potential clients. "Maysville Spring" preserves a moment of time from long ago in this almost forgotten event in small towns all over Georgia--a gathering at Maysville's railroad depot. The train would bring new shipments for merchants, weekend guests for the family and mail for the entire community. The depot was a social gathering place, where everyone stood around the platform trading gossip and greeting friends.

This painting depicts the artist's mother and brother, Tom, with depot agent Mr. George Lichtenstein, greeting the train one cool spring morning. Aboard the train were the daily papers which "Tom would deliver with great haste before the ringing of the school's tardy bell."

   At age 82 and in failing health, Nunn repainted the Maysville depot picture in a style he felt more accurately reflected the former structure. 

   He passed away May 16, 2003, in LaFayette, Georgia, where he had retired.  He is survived by his wife, the former Beatrice Shipp, and two sons, Mike and Tim.

 (Biography compiled by Todd Dorsey.)