Farewell to Barbara Dunn, a Hinds County Institution
Article by Featured Author
Posted December 2022
Barbara Dunn
In early November, 2022, former Hinds County Circuit Clerk Barbara Dunn passed away. Ms. Dunn was elected Circuit Clerk in 1984 and retired in 2015 at the age of 77. She was a formidable presence in the Hinds County Courthouse – well-coiffed blonde hair and full of conversation. She adored her family.
As one of the first elected politicians in Hinds County, she was a masterful marketer. After reading that she had passed, I was able to put my hands on the black comb she gave me in the mid-1990s that was emblazoned with “Vote For Barbara Dunn as Circuit Clerk” on it. I think she also once gave me a flyswatter. She had a “creative” organizational style for the Clerk’s office. Prior to electronic filing, young and old lawyers alike were amazed at the stacks of paper behind the counter in the courthouse. But she could always find what you needed. During the days of huge amounts of litigation in the county, she ran a steady ship. Sometimes her leadership included cookouts at the courthouse on Fridays.
Mississippi has a large cast of interesting legal characters. Ms. Dunn was certainly in the top part of that list. Rest in peace.