Arthur Dunn grew up as the oldest child of the late Arthur Dunn, Sr., and
the late Petronia Avery Dunn of Cusseta, Alabama, on October 5, 1929, in Chambers
County, Alabama. He departed this life on Friday, May 20, 2022. He accepted Christ
early in life, and he was a faithful member of Hall Memorial C. M. E. Church in
Valley, Alabama. Through his years at Hall Memorial, he served in many capacities,
such as Sunday school superintendent, steward, and choir member.
He attended grade school and junior high in Shawmut and graduated from Lanier
High in Lanett, and Tuskegee University, where he earned numerous medals in
track and field. He also studied at the University of Maine and the University of San
Francisco.
Arthur was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged.
On December 23, 1954, Arthur made a lifelong commitment of love and faithfulness
to the late Ollye Shaver Dunn. To this union, three children were born, Tamalita,
Aquenda, and Kevin.
He was preceded in death by Ollye Shaver Dunn, his loving wife for over 54 years, his
brother, Ross Dunn, and his sisters, Letronia Dunn and Elizabeth Barnes.
Coach Dunn spent 37 years in the field of education, including 16 years as a coach
and math teacher at Valley High School, and five additional years teaching after his
retirement from coaching. Before beginning his career at Valley High, Dunn taught
at Davis Trade School in Hopkinsville, KY, and Five Points School in Five Points,
Alabama. He also taught and coached at his beloved Rehobeth High School in Valley,
Alabama. He was principal of Hopewell Junior High in Hopewell (Milltown), and he
taught mathematics at Greenville High School in Greenville, Georgia, for two years.
When he retired as coach in 1986, his teams had accumulated a record of 379 wins
and 161 losses. Coach Dunn earned a Meritorious Service Award from the Alabama
High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
While at Rehobeth, he believed it was his job to take the boys home after practices.
When they had a game, he took all the players home after the game. He used his
truck for many purposes such as driving through the crowd in the field when his boys
were 'misbehaving.' He rode around town at night checking to see if any players were
missing their coach-mandated curfew. His wife, Ollye, rode with him.
Coach Dunn ruled his students with "a short hose pipe and a stern voice," but students
still loved him because they knew he cared. When Coach walked the hall, things
changed. People would say, "Here comes Coach Dunn!" Teachers would run as well
as students.
Coach went to Valley High School in 1970 under integration laws. He made history
by becoming the first Black basketball coach at Valley High School. Coach faced this
great task as a great man. Valley High Rams were champions that year. God always has
a plan, just look at Jeremiah 29:11. In his retirement, he continued to be a dedicated
mathematics tutor.
LEGACY
The new gymnasium at W. F. Burns Middle School officially became the Coach Arthur
Dunn, Jr., Gym, named for an amazing legend who was a longtime educator and
coach.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: a loving and devoted daughter, Minister
Tamalita (Reverend Leonard) Autry of Lanett, Alabama; two loving and dedicated
sons, Aquenda (Patricia) Dunn of Covington, Georgia and Kevin R. Dunn of
LaGrange, Georgia; grandchildren, Shaver Autry, Clifton (Crystal) Autry, Latoya
Ash-Dunn, Heather Dunn, Cameron Dunn, Olivia Dunn, Daniel Quen Dunn,
Annslee Dunn, J'Arthur Dunn; great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Paw
Paw," Ian Crim-Davis, S. J. Autry, McKinley Grace Autry, Matthew Dunn, Jordyn
Morgan, Cayden Dunn, and Princeton Dunn; one sister-in-law, Rosa Leatherwood
Dunn; many nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and friends.
He will live on in the memory of those whose lives he touched. For his death is not a
benediction, it is a resurrection. Now in a fairer land with finer materials and better
working conditions, he will do better, for he will find the last home and last assignment
the best.
the late Petronia Avery Dunn of Cusseta, Alabama, on October 5, 1929, in Chambers
County, Alabama. He departed this life on Friday, May 20, 2022. He accepted Christ
early in life, and he was a faithful member of Hall Memorial C. M. E. Church in
Valley, Alabama. Through his years at Hall Memorial, he served in many capacities,
such as Sunday school superintendent, steward, and choir member.
He attended grade school and junior high in Shawmut and graduated from Lanier
High in Lanett, and Tuskegee University, where he earned numerous medals in
track and field. He also studied at the University of Maine and the University of San
Francisco.
Arthur was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged.
On December 23, 1954, Arthur made a lifelong commitment of love and faithfulness
to the late Ollye Shaver Dunn. To this union, three children were born, Tamalita,
Aquenda, and Kevin.
He was preceded in death by Ollye Shaver Dunn, his loving wife for over 54 years, his
brother, Ross Dunn, and his sisters, Letronia Dunn and Elizabeth Barnes.
Coach Dunn spent 37 years in the field of education, including 16 years as a coach
and math teacher at Valley High School, and five additional years teaching after his
retirement from coaching. Before beginning his career at Valley High, Dunn taught
at Davis Trade School in Hopkinsville, KY, and Five Points School in Five Points,
Alabama. He also taught and coached at his beloved Rehobeth High School in Valley,
Alabama. He was principal of Hopewell Junior High in Hopewell (Milltown), and he
taught mathematics at Greenville High School in Greenville, Georgia, for two years.
When he retired as coach in 1986, his teams had accumulated a record of 379 wins
and 161 losses. Coach Dunn earned a Meritorious Service Award from the Alabama
High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
While at Rehobeth, he believed it was his job to take the boys home after practices.
When they had a game, he took all the players home after the game. He used his
truck for many purposes such as driving through the crowd in the field when his boys
were 'misbehaving.' He rode around town at night checking to see if any players were
missing their coach-mandated curfew. His wife, Ollye, rode with him.
Coach Dunn ruled his students with "a short hose pipe and a stern voice," but students
still loved him because they knew he cared. When Coach walked the hall, things
changed. People would say, "Here comes Coach Dunn!" Teachers would run as well
as students.
Coach went to Valley High School in 1970 under integration laws. He made history
by becoming the first Black basketball coach at Valley High School. Coach faced this
great task as a great man. Valley High Rams were champions that year. God always has
a plan, just look at Jeremiah 29:11. In his retirement, he continued to be a dedicated
mathematics tutor.
LEGACY
The new gymnasium at W. F. Burns Middle School officially became the Coach Arthur
Dunn, Jr., Gym, named for an amazing legend who was a longtime educator and
coach.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: a loving and devoted daughter, Minister
Tamalita (Reverend Leonard) Autry of Lanett, Alabama; two loving and dedicated
sons, Aquenda (Patricia) Dunn of Covington, Georgia and Kevin R. Dunn of
LaGrange, Georgia; grandchildren, Shaver Autry, Clifton (Crystal) Autry, Latoya
Ash-Dunn, Heather Dunn, Cameron Dunn, Olivia Dunn, Daniel Quen Dunn,
Annslee Dunn, J'Arthur Dunn; great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Paw
Paw," Ian Crim-Davis, S. J. Autry, McKinley Grace Autry, Matthew Dunn, Jordyn
Morgan, Cayden Dunn, and Princeton Dunn; one sister-in-law, Rosa Leatherwood
Dunn; many nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and friends.
He will live on in the memory of those whose lives he touched. For his death is not a
benediction, it is a resurrection. Now in a fairer land with finer materials and better
working conditions, he will do better, for he will find the last home and last assignment
the best.
Arthur Dunn grew up as the oldest child of the late Arthur Dunn, Sr., and
the late Petronia Avery Dunn of Cusseta, Alabama, on October 5, 1929, in Chambers
County, Alabama. He departed this life on Friday, May 20, 2022. He accepted Christ
early in life, and he was a faithful member of Hall Memorial C. M. E. Church in
Valley, Alabama. Through his years at Hall Memorial, he served in many capacities,
such as Sunday school superintendent, steward, and choir member.
He attended grade school and junior high in Shawmut and graduated from Lanier
High in Lanett, and Tuskegee University, where he earned numerous medals in
track and field. He also studied at the University of Maine and the University of San
Francisco.
Arthur was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged.
On December 23, 1954, Arthur made a lifelong commitment of love and faithfulness
to the late Ollye Shaver Dunn. To this union, three children were born, Tamalita,
Aquenda, and Kevin.
He was preceded in death by Ollye Shaver Dunn, his loving wife for over 54 years, his
brother, Ross Dunn, and his sisters, Letronia Dunn and Elizabeth Barnes.
Coach Dunn spent 37 years in the field of education, including 16 years as a coach
and math teacher at Valley High School, and five additional years teaching after his
retirement from coaching. Before beginning his career at Valley High, Dunn taught
at Davis Trade School in Hopkinsville, KY, and Five Points School in Five Points,
Alabama. He also taught and coached at his beloved Rehobeth High School in Valley,
Alabama. He was principal of Hopewell Junior High in Hopewell (Milltown), and he
taught mathematics at Greenville High School in Greenville, Georgia, for two years.
When he retired as coach in 1986, his teams had accumulated a record of 379 wins
and 161 losses. Coach Dunn earned a Meritorious Service Award from the Alabama
High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
While at Rehobeth, he believed it was his job to take the boys home after practices.
When they had a game, he took all the players home after the game. He used his
truck for many purposes such as driving through the crowd in the field when his boys
were 'misbehaving.' He rode around town at night checking to see if any players were
missing their coach-mandated curfew. His wife, Ollye, rode with him.
Coach Dunn ruled his students with "a short hose pipe and a stern voice," but students
still loved him because they knew he cared. When Coach walked the hall, things
changed. People would say, "Here comes Coach Dunn!" Teachers would run as well
as students.
Coach went to Valley High School in 1970 under integration laws. He made history
by becoming the first Black basketball coach at Valley High School. Coach faced this
great task as a great man. Valley High Rams were champions that year. God always has
a plan, just look at Jeremiah 29:11. In his retirement, he continued to be a dedicated
mathematics tutor.
LEGACY
The new gymnasium at W. F. Burns Middle School officially became the Coach Arthur
Dunn, Jr., Gym, named for an amazing legend who was a longtime educator and
coach.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: a loving and devoted daughter, Minister
Tamalita (Reverend Leonard) Autry of Lanett, Alabama; two loving and dedicated
sons, Aquenda (Patricia) Dunn of Covington, Georgia and Kevin R. Dunn of
LaGrange, Georgia; grandchildren, Shaver Autry, Clifton (Crystal) Autry, Latoya
Ash-Dunn, Heather Dunn, Cameron Dunn, Olivia Dunn, Daniel Quen Dunn,
Annslee Dunn, J'Arthur Dunn; great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Paw
Paw," Ian Crim-Davis, S. J. Autry, McKinley Grace Autry, Matthew Dunn, Jordyn
Morgan, Cayden Dunn, and Princeton Dunn; one sister-in-law, Rosa Leatherwood
Dunn; many nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and friends.
He will live on in the memory of those whose lives he touched. For his death is not a
benediction, it is a resurrection. Now in a fairer land with finer materials and better
working conditions, he will do better, for he will find the last home and last assignment
the best.
the late Petronia Avery Dunn of Cusseta, Alabama, on October 5, 1929, in Chambers
County, Alabama. He departed this life on Friday, May 20, 2022. He accepted Christ
early in life, and he was a faithful member of Hall Memorial C. M. E. Church in
Valley, Alabama. Through his years at Hall Memorial, he served in many capacities,
such as Sunday school superintendent, steward, and choir member.
He attended grade school and junior high in Shawmut and graduated from Lanier
High in Lanett, and Tuskegee University, where he earned numerous medals in
track and field. He also studied at the University of Maine and the University of San
Francisco.
Arthur was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged.
On December 23, 1954, Arthur made a lifelong commitment of love and faithfulness
to the late Ollye Shaver Dunn. To this union, three children were born, Tamalita,
Aquenda, and Kevin.
He was preceded in death by Ollye Shaver Dunn, his loving wife for over 54 years, his
brother, Ross Dunn, and his sisters, Letronia Dunn and Elizabeth Barnes.
Coach Dunn spent 37 years in the field of education, including 16 years as a coach
and math teacher at Valley High School, and five additional years teaching after his
retirement from coaching. Before beginning his career at Valley High, Dunn taught
at Davis Trade School in Hopkinsville, KY, and Five Points School in Five Points,
Alabama. He also taught and coached at his beloved Rehobeth High School in Valley,
Alabama. He was principal of Hopewell Junior High in Hopewell (Milltown), and he
taught mathematics at Greenville High School in Greenville, Georgia, for two years.
When he retired as coach in 1986, his teams had accumulated a record of 379 wins
and 161 losses. Coach Dunn earned a Meritorious Service Award from the Alabama
High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
While at Rehobeth, he believed it was his job to take the boys home after practices.
When they had a game, he took all the players home after the game. He used his
truck for many purposes such as driving through the crowd in the field when his boys
were 'misbehaving.' He rode around town at night checking to see if any players were
missing their coach-mandated curfew. His wife, Ollye, rode with him.
Coach Dunn ruled his students with "a short hose pipe and a stern voice," but students
still loved him because they knew he cared. When Coach walked the hall, things
changed. People would say, "Here comes Coach Dunn!" Teachers would run as well
as students.
Coach went to Valley High School in 1970 under integration laws. He made history
by becoming the first Black basketball coach at Valley High School. Coach faced this
great task as a great man. Valley High Rams were champions that year. God always has
a plan, just look at Jeremiah 29:11. In his retirement, he continued to be a dedicated
mathematics tutor.
LEGACY
The new gymnasium at W. F. Burns Middle School officially became the Coach Arthur
Dunn, Jr., Gym, named for an amazing legend who was a longtime educator and
coach.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: a loving and devoted daughter, Minister
Tamalita (Reverend Leonard) Autry of Lanett, Alabama; two loving and dedicated
sons, Aquenda (Patricia) Dunn of Covington, Georgia and Kevin R. Dunn of
LaGrange, Georgia; grandchildren, Shaver Autry, Clifton (Crystal) Autry, Latoya
Ash-Dunn, Heather Dunn, Cameron Dunn, Olivia Dunn, Daniel Quen Dunn,
Annslee Dunn, J'Arthur Dunn; great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Paw
Paw," Ian Crim-Davis, S. J. Autry, McKinley Grace Autry, Matthew Dunn, Jordyn
Morgan, Cayden Dunn, and Princeton Dunn; one sister-in-law, Rosa Leatherwood
Dunn; many nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and friends.
He will live on in the memory of those whose lives he touched. For his death is not a
benediction, it is a resurrection. Now in a fairer land with finer materials and better
working conditions, he will do better, for he will find the last home and last assignment
the best.
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