THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
Aunt Dora
reaches 104
Her name is
Dora Anne Hunter Allison Spiva. Today,
Saturday,
February 7 from
Happy Birthday,
Aunt Dora! Whether you are aunt-kin to us or not, you hold this
honorable title, gifted to you because God has granted you long life
and a gracious spirit. We came from far and near on February 7 to say
"thank you" and "you were a great influence on my life."
Just who is
Dora Anne Hunter Allison Spiva?
First, let's
look at her family roots. She was born on
|
Stepping up
later like an Old Testament patriarch, James A. Hunter married his
brother's widow and began to help his dear wife with his nieces and
nephews who became his own children. To Martha and James were born Dora
Anne (1905), Joseph D. (1906) and Daniel (1907), bringing the number of
Hunter children to ten. James Hunter's parents were William Johnson
Hunter (1813-1893) and Martha England Hunter (1819-1897). Martha's
parents were John Combs Hayes Souther (1827-1891) and Nancy Collins
Souther (1829-1888). Family ties on "all sides" stem back to early
settlers in the Choestoe District with names written in the annals of
that area's history: John and Elizabeth Hunter, John and Mary Combs
Souther, Thompson and Celia Self Collins, and Daniel and Margaret Gwynn
England, to name a few of Aunt Dora's early-settler ancestors.
James A. Hunter
died in 1912 when Dora Anne was seven, Joe was not quite six, and Dan
was not quite five. Her mother Martha somehow managed, with the older
children helping on the farm, and the younger children, likewise,
sharing their load of work as they grew up to the responsibilities of
farm and family life.
Dora Hunter
Allison was educated in the country schools, Old Liberty and Choestoe,
whose excellent teachers managed to produce students that stood on
their own wherever they went for subsequent education. She went on to
Young Harris and became a teacher in the Blairsville Collegiate
Institute in 1927 when she was twenty two. Her 40-year career as a
mathematics teacher, principal and counselor was mainly in the Union
County Schools where she distinguished herself as an apt and caring
teacher and one well-beloved by all her students. She continued her own
education, earning degrees from Young Harris,
In Choestoe
Baptist Church where she has been and still is an active member, she
was one of the founders of Woman's Missionary Union, served as a
teacher in Sunday School, known for her knowledge of the Bible, and as
Superintendent of the Sunday School even in the days before women took
active roles in the major leadership of the church. She has been active
in
To honor this
stately lady,
And the beat goes on. A great life is like a widening ripple. It
touches deeply where the impact is first made, but it circles outward
to reach far beyond the initial target in an ever-widening circle.
Mrs. Dora
Hunter Allison Spiva, you have had great
impact on so many touched by your caring nature and your dynamic
personality, your ability to teach and your dedication to leadership.
Saturday's party was beautiful, with her friends from the Blairsville
Garden Club (which she helped to found years ago) making attractive
decorations for every table and even the "throne-like" place where she
sat. The food prepared by her fellow church members was exquisite and
tasty, and the huge birthday cake fashioned by Judy Hood Rogers was a
lovely centerpiece enjoyed by all. But Dora herself was definitely the
center of attention and attraction--amazing, delightful Dora!
Thank you is
too small a word to wish you a wonderful 104th birthday! But we do
thank you. You did make more difference in our lives than you will ever
know.
c2009 by Ethelene
Dyer Jones; published
[Ethelene
Dyer Jones is a retired educator, freelance writer, poet, and historian.
She may be reached at e-mail [email protected];
phone 478-453-8751; or mail
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