Floris Austin Dunn's Obituary
Mrs. Floris Austin Dunn, age 95, passed away January 13, 2025 in Austell, GA.
Floris was the youngest of 9 children born to James Austin and Agnes Eleanor Mitchell Austin in Smyrna, GA.
At the age of 16, Floris graduated from Mableton High School, where she was Salutatorian of her class and delivered a speech at graduation.
From a young age, faith was a cornerstone of her life. As a teenager, Floris joined Davis Chapel Baptist Church. It was such a small church that it did not have a baptismal pool, so Floris was baptized in Sweetwater Creek. In later years, she became a member of Austell Christian Church.
Floris played an integral part in the growth of the South Cobb County Fire Department. Previously, the South Cobb County area only had volunteer fireman respond to incidents, but once the area budget increased and saw a jump in population, they were able to create a South Cobb Fire District. Floris’ husband, James, became the first fire chief of unincorporated South Cobb County. In its infancy, the fire department fundraised diligently in order to afford supplies and fire trucks, and Floris was a key piece of organizing and running those events. She also put her artistic talents to use drawing the blueprints for some of the county’s first firehouses.
Floris was the office manager at the Kmart in Mableton until her retirement.
She is preceded in death by her husband, James Samuel Dunn, Sr.; son, James Samuel Dunn, Jr.; her parents; and her eight siblings.
Floris is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Chandler; grandchildren, Fredric Bryan Dunn and Christopher James Dunn; daughter-in-law, Babs Dunn; and beloved extended family and friends.
A funeral service honoring Floris’ life will be held Friday, January 17th, 2:00 PM at Davis-Struempf Chapel with Rev. Phillip Medlin officiating.
Interment will follow the service at Mableton Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends on Friday before the service from 12:00 to 2:00 PM.
Flowers are kindly accepted, however, in lieu of flowers, donations in Floris’ memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org , or to a charity of your choice.
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