Transcribed by Suzanne Forte ( suzanneforte@windstream.net ) from information received

From Patricia Diane Goga ( ldsfrog@hotmail.com )

 Mrs. Jeffie Dial, 82, is truly a person to admire.  She has grown older, but still has the charm and looks of a younger woman.  She has changed with the times, but still retains a grace of years gone by, and through lonely years, still has a heart full of love.

"There are special memories," she says, "that we cherish through the years.  They all become more beautiful the older we grow.  Should I hold a place apart, a place of love and affection in anyone's heart, I'm grateful."

Mrs. Dial's parents were the late Rubin Weaver and Angielyn (Henry) Weaver, Gwinnett County pioneers.  Both of her grandfathers were involved in the Civil War.

Her paternal grandfather, Benjamin Putnam Weaver, was a volunteer in the Georgia 42nd Regiment, Company B, and her maternal grandfather, Thomas McGuire, owned a large plantation in the Rockbridge section of Gwinnett County called "The Promised Land."  He write in his diary about Sherman's raid and how destitute everyone was.

"Yes", she says, "all my people lived in Gwinnett County.  We lived there when I was born.  My father had a mercantile business and ran the post office in Caleb, near Centerville.  We moved to Loganville about 1905 and he continued the mercantile business here.  He was also mayor of Loganville for several years and worked hard for better things, especially education."

"We lived on the Winder Road in the old Brand home place.  I had two sisters and four brothers, but all are gone now except me and my brother Ruben David Weaver of Winder, who is 69." (Transcriber's note:  Ruben David Weaver passed away Jan 31, 1979 and is buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Loganville, GA)

"When I was born," she laughs, "Papa was expecting a boy that he wanted to name Jefferson.  When I was born he changed that to Jeffie."

Mrs. Dial taught school for several years in various parts of Walton County, including Center Hill, Sharon and at the Johnston Institute in Monroe.

"While in Monroe, she says, "I lived with Miss Lana Michael, sister of the Poppy lady, Miss Moina Michael Laney was a wonderful person and a wonderful teacher. 

Mrs. Dials husband, the late John Robert Dial was an engineer for Southern Railway for 53 years.  He was from Walnut Grove, the son of John Robert Dial and Martha (Watson) Dial.  Mr. George Broadnax of Walnut Grove helped him get the job with the railroad at age 17, when he was supposed to be 21.

"We were married for 48 years", she says.  "After marrying we lived in Atlanta from 1922 until 1962. 

Yes, Mrs. Dial is truly a remarkable person and she always finds ways to keep busy.

"I don't waste my time," she concluded, "I try to enrich the day with things that give me peace of mind and body."