JAMES ELVIS LYNN

 

     James Elvis Lynn, b February 16, 1922 at High- bank, Falls County, Texas, resides in Marlin, Texas in 1986 - was a son of John Lynn and his second wife, Irene Estelle (Burch) Lynn, of Highbank, Falls County, Texas. James Elvis Lynn's grandparents settled in the Highbank Community prior to 1855, where they purchased land after the Civil War. This land is now worked and owned by fourth generation descendants of the Lynn family.

     On March 9, 1952, James Elvis Lynn was married to Zona Mae Hunnicutt, b January 7, 1928 near Marlin, Falls County, Texas - a daughter of Arthur Hunnicutt, b June 13, 1893, d December 30, 1967 - a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War I, and his wife, Glendora Mae (Douglas) Hunnicutt (called "Dora"), b November 15, 1905 in Falls County, Texas, d August 13, 1977 - and both buried in Shady Grove Cemetery, Falls County, Texas. Zona's paternal grandparents were Peter and Martha (Shipp) Hunnicutt, who married December 24, 1885 in Falls County, Texas. Peter Hunnicutt (1857-1925) was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hunnicutt; and his wife, Martha (Shipp) Hunnicutt (1871, died before 1925) was a daughter of Henry and Malinda Shipp, both born in Texas, who settled in Falls County before 1880 with their children, Martha, Susan, Milam, and Henry Shipp, Jr. The maternal grandparents of Zona Mae (Hunnicutt) Lynn were Edward Douglas (1881 - 1945), born in Robertson County, Texas - a son of Moses Douglas, native of Texas and his wife, Elnora Douglas, born in South Carolina, who resided in Brazoria County, Texas in 1880 - and his wife, Mary Jane (Bailey) Douglas, b 1882 in Crockett, Houston County, Texas, d 1944, and both  buried in Old Antioch Church Cemetery at Stranger, Falls County, Texas. Mary Jane (Bailey) Douglas was a daughter of Granville Bailey, born in Florida, and his wife, Glendora (Goode) Bailey, born in Georgia, who} settled in Precinct Two of Falls County prior to 1900. Zona's mother, Glendora, was a twin to Elnora; and E they were known throughout their lives as "Dora" and “Nora.”

     James Elvis Lynn received his B.S. degree from Paul Quinn College, and his Masters degree from Prairie View A&M University, He served as principal of I Booker T. Washington School for many years; and in 1978, was elected to his first term as Falls County Commissioner, Precinct 2, - being re-elected for a second term, which he is now serving in 1986. James is , president of the Marlin and Falls County Branch of the 1: N.A.A.C.P., is a member of the June 19th Committee, serves on the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund which was established as a part of the 1986 Falls County Sesquicentennial activities, and is actively involved in the political, civic, and cultural activities of the community and county.

     Zona (Hunnicutt) Lynn received her B.A. degree from Houston - Tillotson College, a Masters Degree at Prairie View A&M University, and has done her post-graduate work at Baylor University in Waco. She taught in the schools in Littlefield and La Vega, Texas before joining the staff of Marlin Independent School District, where she is now supervisor for Falls County Special Education Cooperative.

     James and Zona (Hunnicutt) Lynn are members of Zion Rock Church at Highbank, where he teaches a Sunday School Class, and she is Church Clerk. They were the parents of two children:

     Wanda Elaine Lynn, b April 29, 1954, who married Ronnie Mathews. Their children were: Rhonda Lynn Mathews, died at age two months; and Mischa Lynn Mathews. They reside in Dallas, Texas.

     James Elvis Lynn, Jr., b September 29, 1956 - who married July 26,1986 to Angetta Henry, of Eagle Lake, Texas - a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Euszene.  They reside in Houston, Texas.

 


Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 287 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.