On June 14, 2025, as our country celebrated the United States Army and its 250 years of service, existence and President Donald Trump’s birthday with full military parade in Washington, D.C., the Barco, Currituck County, North Carolina celebrated the unveiling of the Fleetwood M. Dunston, Jr. Family Legacy “Imperative Signage Marker” 1876-2022.
Those that attended and participated in the program and unveiling included United States Coast Guard (USCG) Color Guard and USCG Master Chief Chris Hinote; the Honorable Rudy Grant, Consul General of Barbados; historian Frank Hester; “Pea Island Cook House,” Roanoke; Barbara Snowden, author and historian; Dr. Walter Swan, musician and faculty senate chair of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in North Carolina; Cora “Cocoa” Johnson-Dunston, matriarch of the Dunston family; family and friends; the Central Union Class of 1963 and the local community. Author and historian Snowden was active in research, documentation and preservation of the history of Currituck County, northeastern North Carolina, North Carolina Historical Commission and North Carolina Maritime Council.
All gathered in Currituck County, the outer banks, North Carolina for a one-of-a-kind event that was for all people for the first time in its history. Currituck County acknowledged and celebrated the Fleetwood M. Dunston, Jr. Family Legacy 1876-2022 with the unveiling of the “Imperative Signage Marker” which will be permanently posted on the property formerly owned by Fleetwood M. Dunston, Jr.
An enhanced and amended part of Black History, recognizing diplomacy and maritime collectively in Currituck County, North Carolina, is now defined and recorded and continues to thrive and grow internationally.
The late Fleetwood M. Dunston, Jr. from Coinjock, Currituck County, North Carolina owned DUNCO, Inc. construction company. The company was run by him and his wife Cora “Cocoa” Johnson-Dunston. They were both graduates of the Atlanta University Center. Fleetwood M. Dunston, Jr., Morehouse College, 1967 and Cora Cocoa Johnson-Dunston, Atlanta University School of Social Work, MSW, 1975. Fleetwood Marshall Dunston, Jr. was an established businessman in Atlanta, who owned an office furniture dealership that specialized in interior design and space planning services. He also was a diplomat and the first Honorary Consul for the country of Barbados in Georgia. Atlanta’s Cora “Cocoa” Johnson-Dunston continues to share the wonderful legacy and Black history of her Dunston family.
More info on Fleetwood M. Dunston, Jr. and Cora “Cocoa” Dunston at: https://atlinq.com/historically-speaking-how-a-black-owned-local-firm-contributed-to-olympic-construction-30-years-ago-this-year/.
Last updated on June 27, 2025
You must be logged in to post a comment.