Dade County History Book

Joe Lee Middleton, the first child born to Dewey Lee and Mary Ann Stancil Middleton, was born August 12, 1955 in Walker County Georgia. Joey obtained the rank of an Eagle Scout and is still active with the Boy Scouts of America. He is a hunter, caver and camper and is a member of the Western Lodge No. 91, F&AM in LaFayette where he has served as Worshipful Master. After graduating from LaFayette High School he went to work for the Georgia State Highway Department. He is a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in LaFayette.

Joey married Donna Kathleen Morgan on November 29, 1974. She was born October 4, 1956 in Groton, New London, Connecticut, and the eldest daughter of Maurice Morgan and Donna Morton. During the first fifteen years of her life she traveled with her Navy family and has lived in Connecticut, Idaho, California, Hawaii, Spain, South Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia.

Kathy graduated from LaFayette High School also and she, like Joey, enjoys caving and camping and is a past Brownie Scout leader. She is employed by Pigeon Mountain Industries and is a member of the New Salem Methodist Church.

Joey and Kathy live in LaFayette and have two children: India Christine (Christy) Middleton was born at LaFayette Medical Center, being delivered by Dr. Howard C. Derrick, on November 19, 1975. She attended Mrs. Bowman’s Kindergarten, Fortune Grammar School, LaFayette Middle School and graduated from LaFayette High School. While at LaFayette High School, she was in the band and went to Germany as a summer exchange student.

She is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lafayette and is currently a senior at Georgia Southern University of  Statesboro, Georgia where she is majoring in education.

Zachary Lyler (Zach) Middleton was born at Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Ogiethorpe on October 16, 1978. He attended Mrs. Bowman’s Kindergarten, Fortune Grammar School, LaFayette Middle School and like his other family members graduated from LaFayette High School. He was involved in Boy Scouts of America, soccer, track, caving, repelling, golf and loves mountain bike riding. As a grandmother writing this article, I must brag a little. Zack worked at Cloudland Canyon one year and with his earned money he purchased his mountain bike by himself. It was very expensive and I’m proud that he accomplished this without help from his parents or grandparents while he was a junior in high school.

Zack went to Germany as a exchange student for the summer and now attends Georgia Southern University as a freshman. His major (as of now) is in business. He, too, is a member of the First United Methodist Church of LaFayette. (Submitted by Mary Ann Middieton)