Former Governor and Senator, Zell Miller, Passes.

Former governor and senator, Zell Miller, died at 86 this past week after suffering from failing health for several years, according to his grandson, Bryan Miller.

He is the great grandson of Lydia Dunagan Miller and James Miller. Lydia Dunagan who was the daughter of Joseph Ellis Dunagan, the oldest son of Ezekiel Dunagan and Lydia Ann Brown. Zell is the author of several books and also served in the U. S. Senate before retiring to his home town of Young Harris, GA. He was also a former Marine.

James Miller b. 10 Dec 1816, Hall County, GA, d. 27 Apr 1896, buried in Mossy Creek, White Co., GA.He married Lydia Dunagan b. 17 Feb 1827, Hall County, GA, d. 7 Apr 1891, also buried at Mossy Creek, White County, GA. I am not certain of who the parents of James Miller were but Lydia Dunagan was the oldest daughter of my 3rd. great grandparents, Joseph Ellis Dunagan and Lucinda Beall. Lucinda Beall was the daughter of Frederick Beall, a Brig General in the War of 1812. Lydia was named after her grandmother, Lydia Ann (Brown)Dunagan.

James and Lydia had several children but Zell Miller is descended from their child, William Jasper "Bud" Miller b. 7 Feb 1847, White County, GA. He married Jane Malinda Collins and they had a son, Stephen Grady Miller, the father of Zell Bryan Miller.

Stephen Grady Miller was married to Birdie Bryan. Zell Miller was born 24 Feb 1932, the same year his father died. Birdie never remarried and raised Zell and his siblings as a single mother.

Governor Zell Miller will be remembered by many Georgians for establishing the Hope Scholarship.

A Little Irish History by Darlene Dunagan Scruggs

☘A Little Irish History☘

☘Did you know that present day Hall County was first settled in the late 1790's by two Irish brothers who brought the first settlers here? Joseph and Joshua Dunagan led a small group of white settlers into the then Indian territory and built their settlement on the banks of the Oconee River in the eastern part of present day Hall County, Georgia. Shortly after their arrival, Ezekiel and Isaiah, sons of Joseph Dunagan, led the second group of settlers to the Joshua Dunagan settlement. Joshua was soon slaughtered by the Indians near Maysville, Georgia. After his death the settlement was known as the Joseph Dunagan settlement. Ezekiel stayed and raised his family in this same area. At the time of his death in 1836, he owned three thousand acres. Ezekiel’s descendants remained on his land and built a community that was known as Dunagan, Georgia. Most of the Dunagans in this area today are direct descendants of Joseph and his son Ezekiel. Some of Ole Zeke's descendants are still living on his land today. ☘

Karen Jo Dunagan Wilson Smith - Obituary Announcement

Karen Jo Dunagan Wilson Smith passed away on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, at Huntsville Hospital. She was a member of Hartselle First Baptist Church.

Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cullman Funeral Home with funeral services to follow. Interment will be at Welti Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery. Pastor Clayton Speed and brother Charles Shaddix will be presiding.

Karen was born Oct. 1, 1944, to William E. Dunagan and Lera Gay Wright Dunagan in Crowell, Texas. Karen graduated from Fairview High School, in Cullman County in 1962. She then went to UAB School of Radiological Technology and graduated in 1967. Over the next 40 years she worked in Huntsville and Cullman Alabama, Plainview, Texas, Louisville, Kentucky, and Kankakee, Illinois.

Karen had a great interest in family genealogy and devoted much of her time to this pursuit. From her research she learned that her father's name originally was Buster Virgil McCorkle, Jr. who changed his name to William Edward "Bill" Dunagan when he went to live with Albert Dunagan, a grandson of Delilah Dunagan (m. Buster Virgil McCorkle, Sr.)/Joseph Daniel Dunagan/Ezekiel and Delilah Trotter Dunagan/Ezekiel and Lydia Ann Brown Dunagan from Georgia. Virgil McCorkle married Delilah Dunagan, daughter of Joseph and granddaughter of Ezekiel Dunagan. Buster Virgil McCorkle, Sr. and Delilah had twins, Bill and Marie, but due to Delilah’s illness, Marie was raised by Delilah’s sister, and Bill was raised by Delilah’s brother, Albert.  Neither were adopted.  Bill enlisted in the army as Bill Dunagan, thus changing his name.  He had 3 children, Roger, Karen, and Lynn. Needless to say Karen was very interesting to talk with. She was a fine person and very generous with her time and resources. She loved all people but especially her family, church family, and friends. She shall be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Karen is survived by her children, Robert Bryan Wilson, of Hartselle, Alabama, and Keegan Spencer Smith, of Jackson, Michigan; grandchildren, Stella Sims and Elih Wilson, of Hatton, Alabama; brother, Roger Dunagan (wife Connie), of Decatur, Alabama; sister, Lynn Dunagan, of Florence, Alabama; and niece, Erin Dunagan, of Birmingham, Alabama.

Pallbearers are Joe Teachout, Tommy Cobb, Robert Berry, Michael Howse, Michael Wilson, and Matthew Kilgore.

The family would like to express special thanks to Hartselle First Baptist Church for being such wonderful, caring people to Karen and for the untold acts of kindness that was shown to her. Also, to DCI Dialysis Center in Decatur, Alabama for all the years of providing excellent care and to the doctors and staff of the Surgical/Trauma Intensive Care Unit of Huntsville Hospital.

Angie Dunagan Hinson - Obituary Announcement

Angie Hinson, 74, of Macclenny, FL passed away Feb 5, 2018. Mrs Hinson was born in Monroe, GA, to the late Rev. William Melvin Dunagan and Frances Martin Dunagan. She graduated from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, GA, obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Tift College, Forsyth, GA, and earned her Master’s degree from North Florida University, Jacksonville, FL. She was fascinated with the process of learning, promoted reading to all within arms-reach, and continued to immerse herself into new and exciting topics until her last moments. Teaching was her gift and she taught first in Decatur, GA and then later returned to teach at Fitzgerald High School in GA. For most of her career she taught eight-grade English at Baker County Middle School where she chaired the department for seven years and was selected as Teacher of the Year in 1979-1980. Not one to draw attention to herself, she quietly retired from instructional life in Baker County at the Adult Center. She was a true Renaissance woman who spoke French, read Latin--and could tell you all about astronomy--loved playing classical and even current music on the piano--yet she cherished the simple times with her family and often could be found playing on the floor with her grandchildren. During her life she participated in the Junior Woman’s Club, Beta Sigma Phi teacher’s sorority, the Retired Teachers Association, and was of the Baptist faith. Although very private, Mrs Hinson was generous, enjoyed her service to others, and will be missed by many. Mrs Hinson is survived by her children: Douglas Hinson of Weddington, NC and Jenny (Hinson) Porter-Haag and Jeremy Haag of Kansas City, MO; Grandchildren: Kyle Hinson, Mariah Hinson, Jack Hinson; Drew Porter, Aleigh Porter, and Matthew Porter; Sisters: Melva and Roger Ezell, Perry, FL; Donna and David McMillan, Clayton, GA as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family will hold a private memorial service and burial of Mrs. Hinson’s ashes with her parents at a later date in Tifton, GA. Guerry Funeral Home, US 90 E. Macclenny, FL is in charge of local arrangements.

Remembering Angie Dunagan Hinson by Sandra Dunagan Deal

That is a very nice picture of cousin Angie. Seeing it triggers a lot of great memories. Visits from our South Georgia cousins meant we all gathered at Grandmother Dunagan's farm. Melva, Angie, Brenda, Winfred and I, the oldest grandchildren, spent many hours of outdoor fun playing in the barn and chasing through the broom sage. At night all the girls slept together in a big feather bed, especially after Aunt Bonnie got us good and scared with her ghost stories. It was nice to snuggle together and feel secure in that big cold house heated only by one small fireplace and the big iron kitchen cook stove. We would wake up to the smell of breakfast cooking, jerk on our day clothes and hungrily rush to the warmth of the kitchen. Grandmother always made us a special cup of "coffee" from the milk of the cow she had risen early to milk, a little honey or sugar and just enough coffee from the pot on the stove to color and warm our cup. We thought we were grown ups. I can  still smell the hot biscuits and picture the table filled with meat, fresh eggs and homemade jelly or sorghum syrup. "Cousins together  at Grandmother's house" brings such memories: drawing water from the well, sweeping the rooms with homemade broomstraw  brooms and cleaning the yard with sticks. I remember picking blackberries for pies and finding pieces of pottery from the Indians. We watched the iceman deliver blocks of ice for the icebox to keep the milk and butter cool. There was no telephone or television but a few times we danced to the victrola. 

As we grew older and families expanded, we traveled to visit Uncle Melvin's family and sometimes Brenda and I would get to stay a few extra days with Angie and Melva. I remember just us girls walking barefoot to the movies and buying our tickets with Merita bread wrappers. Our first visit to the ocean was with them.  Such good memories of "cousin time". It is a shame that after we all started our individual families we became too busy to get together. Our parents continued to visit but we only saw each other at weddings and funerals.
I hope Angie had good memories of our cousin visits. Pictures and memories are all we have left. I guess my good memories of those times is why I love reunions,  hot breakfast,  coffee and connecting with family and friends everywhere. I just need to write my memories or they will pass with me.
Sandra Dunagan Deal