William Webster Davis and his two Coffey wives

William Webster Davis was born Jan. 26, 1837 in Amherst Co., VA and died there on Apr. 10, 1909. He first married Sarah Jane Coffey c1860 in Amherst Co. This union produced two sons, John, born c1861 and Henry c1863. Sarah likely died in childbirth because she disappeared immediately after Henry's birth.

Sarah Jane was the daughter of John Jack and Elizabeth Susan Duff Coffey. John Jack and Henry, father of William Davis' second wife, Avarila Coffey, were brothers. John Jack and Henry were sons of Jordan Coffey.

William married Avarila Coffey on Sep. 14, 1865 in Pedlar Dist., Amherst Co. She was born Mar. 2, 1846 to Henry F. and Elizabeth (Betsy) McDaniel Coffey. Henry is often thought of as a son of Jordan and Elizabeth Rippetoe Coffey, but may have been the son of one of Jordan's daughters out of wedlock.

John Taylor, a Coffeytown researcher, had this to say about Henry:

"...although Henry Coffey shows for the first time in the 1850 Census as the head of a household, he may have been one of 2 boys his age living with Jordan and Elizabeth in 1840. According to Census reports, Henry was born around 1817. He married, at the age of 31, Elizabeth (McDaniel) (Ogden) Coffey, who was slightly older than Henry, and she had several children of her own from a previous marriage to Zachariah Ogden. Henry seems to have acted as guardian to her older children and they took his surname, at least for the census reports, but, except for Paulin, they are believed to have used their own surnames later. Henry F. Coffey died 10 June 1871 of Colic, in Amherst County, according to the Amherst County death records. The information on the death record, including naming his parents as Charles and Jane Coffey of Nelson County, was given by Henry's son, Henry L. Coffey. His place of burial is unknown, but is probably up on the hill behind Embree Crawford's house [Coffeytown], in an unmarked grave, perhaps with Elizabeth."

William and Sarah's children were John Davis, born c1861, and Henry, born c1863.

Children by Avarila were:

Virginia Anne (Jenny) Davis, born 1866, died 1941. She married Arthur Coffey, a once removed first cousin and son of William (Billy) and Sarah G. (Sally) Crawford Coffey. Billy was a son of Jordan and Elizabeth.

Arthur Coffey

Arthur and Jenny's children were: Hallie Pearl, born c1881, married John Houston Crawford; Hiram Randolph, born Feb. 26, 1886, died Sep. 17, 1924, married Susie A. Catlett; Mabel Irene, born Jan. 3, 1885, married Emmett Boyd Humphries; Ernest Webster, born Feb. 5, 1888, died 1982, married Ethel McClung Stratton, daughter of George Baxter and Elianna [Eleanor?] Coffey. Elianna was the daughter of Charles Edward and Sarah Jane Ogden Coffey.

The next child born to Arthur and Jenny was Alma Gertrude, born c1891, married Thomas Powell Crawford; Fletcher Beadles, born Oct. 3, 1893, died Aug. 11, 1975, married Maggie Lee Harris; Mina Lee, born Jan. 10, 1895, died Feb. 1, 1979, married first to Thompson Massie Davis; second to James William Gibson.

Sally, born c1897, followed Mina. She married first Wallace Earl Palmer and second, Glenn Wyatt; Leonard Carlyle, born May 13, 1903, died Aug. 23, 1959, married Mary Elsie Coffey, a daughter of Hiter Webster and Mary Higginbotham Coffey. Hiter was also a son of Charles Edward and Sarah Jane Ogden Coffey.



Leonard Carlyle and Mary Elsie Coffey Coffey

The last child of Arthur and Virginia was Essie Rose, born Apr. 4, 1907, died Jun. 19, 1999. She married Emmett Lewis Sale.

The remaining children of William Webster and Avarila Coffey Davis were:

Ida Penn, born c1867; Cornelia Catherine, born c1869, married Thomas H. McDaniel; Elizabeth Pendleton, born about Apr. 1870; Amanda Ellen, born c1873; Houston Carlyle, born c1874; Mary Lee, born c1877; Callie Tucker, born Sep. 1881; Tully Ashby, born Mar. 8, 1883; Chester Cleveland, born Jan. 11, 1885; Royal Wilbur, born Oct. 10, 1886; and Edna Belle, born Apr., 1891.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address with additions and/or corrections.

Levi Joseph and Agnes Georgia Gragg Coffey

Levi was a son of Columbus Alexander and Mary Alice Woodruff Coffey. He was born Jun. 4, 1917 in NC. His date of death is not known to me, but he shares an un-dated headstone with his wife in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co.

According to Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995), Levi married Agnes on Sep. 21, 1940 in that county.

Agnes was born Jul. 12, 1924 in Avery Co. to Bill and Margaret Woodruff Gragg. She died Apr. 17, 1994 in Blowing Rock.

Her obituary:

Georgia Gragg Coffey, 69, of Route 1, Blowing Rock, died Sunday, Apr 17, 1994, at the residence.

She was born July 12, 1924, in Avery County to the late Bill and Margaret Woodruff Gragg.

Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker.

Surviving are her husband, Levi Coffey of the home; three sons, Bruce Coffey and Eugene Coffey, both of Lenoir and Larry Coffey of Joyceton; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church with the Revs. Murray Coffey and Wade Church officiating. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Boone Fork Cemetery.

The family will receive friends tonight from 7 until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Their son Floyd Bruce Coffey was born Nov. 1, 1942 in Caldwell Co., and died Dec. 14, 2004 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.


His obituary:

Obituary, Hampton Funeral Service, Boone, Watauga Co., NC

Floyd Bruce Coffey
(November 1, 1942 - December 14, 2004)

Mr. Floyd Bruce Coffey, age 62, of 124-A Wayside Place, Lenoir, died Tuesday morning, December 14, 2004, at his home.

Mr. Coffey is survived by his wife, Helen Pearson Coffey of the home; four daughters, Barbara McCloud of Hudson, Gloria Creasy and husband Steve and Angela Dellinger both of Morganton, and Wanda Marley of Lenoir; three sons, Allen Coffey and wife Misty of Morganton, Albert Coffey and wife Patricia and Wayne Coffey and wife Danielle both of Lenoir; his father, Levi Coffey of Blowing Rock; two brothers, Eugene Coffey and wife Anita and Larry Coffey and wife Doris both of Hudson. Sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survives. He was preceded in death by his mother, Georgia Gragg Coffey.

Funeral services for Mr. Floyd Bruce Coffey will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at Boone Fork Baptist Church. Officiating will be Reverend Darryl Miller and Reverend Dewey Bristol. Burial will follow in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends, Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:30 at the funeral home.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address is you can establish a link between Levi's mother, Mary Alice Woodruff, and Agnes' mother, Margaret Woodruff.


Headstone photo courtesy of Connie Coffey Dorsey

Edward Coffey Project CD Update

The CD that I have been sending to those who order it have contained photos of people and some documents, and requires only one CD.

Today, I learned to my dissatisfaction, in order to include ALL photos, documents, etc. requires a minimum of three CDs. The simple solution for this would be for me to invest in a CD/DVD Read/Write drive, and a stack of blank DVD R/W disks.

Since that won't happen in the near future*, I will continue to send the usual single CD that will contain all facts, sources and photographs of families and/or individuals that I have assembled.

Should someone desire the complete file - in the form of a "shareable CD" created by my genealogy program (Roots Magic) and contained on at least 3 CDs, the cost will increase. There are a few ways that I can send the data on CD, so contact me via the e-mail address above for more details. One method considered requires someone to send me a 2GB thumb drive which I will fill up and return.

A button has been added on the right side of the blog for purchasers to use their Visa, etc., cards to buy the CD. The payment goes through my account with Pay Pal, and is safe and secure.

Click here for more information on Roots Magic.

Disclaimer: I do not work for Roots Magic and do not receive any compensation from them. I simply like the software and often recommend it to anyone looking to buy a genealogy software package.

*If any of my children are reading this, a RW/DVD CD Rom for my laptop would make a great Father's Day gift!

Jeff Coffey and Rosa Strunk

Jeff Coffey Death Certificate

I'm searching for Shelby Coffey, father of this Jeff Coffey, born Aug. 27, 1887, died Nov. 30, 1928 in McCreary Co., KY. According to Jeff's death certificate, he was married to Rosa Strunk.

The only Jeff, or Jefferson that I can find in the Kentucky census record was son of Lewis Coffey, Jr. and Permelia Ann Tucker Coffey. He was married to Lena [Lina] Barnett c1906 and appears with her from 1910 to 1930 in Wayne Co. Kentucky death records show that he died Aug. 30, 1969 in that county, and is buried there in Elk Spring Valley Cemetery.

Lina was born Oct. 24, 1889 in Wayne Co., and died Oct. 7, 1961 in Somerset, Pulaski Co., KY. She is also buried in Elk Spring.

I have the following in my files:

Shelby, born Aug. 19, 1811 in Wayne Co., son of Lewis Russell and Bidant Moore Coffey, and the husband of Zerilda Emarine Meadows. This Shelby died Sep. 2, 1863 and is buried at Elk Spring.

Shelby, born c1833 in KY. This Shelby could be the son of James Lewis, and the same one found in the 1860 Wayne Co. census with Henderson, brother to James Lewis. I am unsure if Henderson also gave this name to one of his sons, or if the 1860 Shelby is his nephew. Henderson and James Lewis are sons of Lewis and Bidant.

Shelby, born 1832 in Wayne Co., KY, a son of Henderson and Minerva Alexander Coffey

Shelby, born 1852 in Wayne Co., son of John Coffey and Rachel Barrier Coffey. This Shelby married Sarah Perkins on Dec. 26, 1872.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can help with the ID, or can correct any of this information.

The Edward Coffey Project (Update 2)

This project is active again on the Coffey Cousins' website.

I have not included photographs or sources in this upload. Rather than ask for a CD, a few "researchers" have been spending hours downloading thousands of pages. They are not only stealing my work, and the work of those that have contributed to the project, but are also monopolizing my server, effectively denying access to others. I am certain that they will continue to download the file, but at least it will not take them hours to do it because they will not be able to download the documentation.

A CD containing all of the information that I have compiled on Edward and his descendants is available. The CD will include photographs, obituaries, complete source citations (when available), and other family and/or individual facts. It represents several years of personal research plus the time and effort of everyone who has contributed their family information to assure an accurate as possible picture of the family.

Besides 7000+ Coffeys, the compilation contains such surnames Campbell, Dalton, Fitzgerald, Gragg, Hayes, Wolfe, Shockley, and others. The CD will also now contain the descendants of Jordan Coffey.

I have attempted to remove everyone from the CD who was born after 1930 and for whom I have no death information. Please contact me ASAP should you find yourself, or your immediate family (father, mother, siblings, spouses and their children) in this compilation, and would like to have them removed.

The CD is free. I now charge $10.00 for postage and materials. It can be ordered from me, Jack Coffee, 110 Lydia Road, St. Joseph, LA 71366. CDs are burned when an order is received thereby assuring every CD is the most up to date available.

A History of Clay Co. IN

The following is the opening paragraph from a History of Clay Co., Indiana, Vol. 1, authored by William Travis, and published in 1909. It appears on a Rootsweb site and maintained by the Indiana GenWeb Project. This particular page is about Saline City and mentions an Edward Coffey.

Saline City, a town in Sugar Ridge township, at the junction of the main line of the Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad with the Brazil Branch, founded by Henry Jamison in 1870. When first laid out this town was named only Saline, but at the September term of Commissioners' Court, 1872, on petition of the proprietor, the record was changed so as to make it read “Saline City.” To the uninitiated the name of this place is misleading. On the train from Terre Haute out to Clay City, a good many years ago, were two strangers, seated side by side, one of whom, when the name of this station was called, looking out of the window, inquired of the outsiders, “Where are the salt works ?“ Though disappointed in not seeing the “works,” the stranger was right in his deduction from the call he had heard. On the hillside just south of the town site was a salt-lick in pioneer times, so much frequented by deer that their constant licking lapped out and undermined a large oak tree, so that the winds blew it down. From this circumstance the town was given a name suggestive of salt. The site of this town is historic ground, standing on the east side border of the Birch Creek Reservoir,or canal feeder, which the people in that part of the country were just as much determined to abate as the canal trustees were determined to maintain it. Here, within a few rods of the site of the E.&I. Railroad station, were encamped in the summer of 1855, the two companies of Indiana Militia, under command of Colonel Dodd, sent out by Governor Wright to protect the canal property.

This link will take you to the remainder of the above while this link will take you to the Clay Co., IN GenWeb site.

Looting devastates Iraq veteran's life

After nearly three weeks of desert combat and enough death to jangle his brain for a lifetime, Pvt. Earl Coffey arrived in Baghdad in April 2003 thinking he'd discovered an oasis.

It was Palace Row, one of the most exclusive tracts of real estate in Iraq, and not even major bomb damage could dim the luster of a tyrant's decadence. Coffey was among the first U.S. troops to secure Saddam Hussein's inner sanctum, the postwar "Green Zone" now hosting diplomats and government authorities. Its allure was intoxicating.

Coffey, who grew up in Harlan County in the shadow of coal mines, was in awe at seeing gold-rimmed toilet seats, 30-foot wide chandeliers, and Swarovski crystal collections. Over the next few days, he sampled Dom Perignon champagne and Monte Cristo Cuban cigars, and heard the roar of captive pet carnivores.

He watched as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle rammed and collapsed the wall of a windowless bunker just outside Hussein's palace. The building concealed bundles of U.S. currency stacked floor-to-ceiling.

Staring down all that money "was like hitting the lottery," recalls Coffey.

And, so begins the story of the beginning of the end of a military career of a young soldier from Harlan Co., KY. The article, which includes a photo of Earl Coffey as a civilian, was authored by Billy Cox of the New York Times News Service and, printed in the online edition of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Click on the title link to read the rest of the story.

Daniel Webster Coffey

Daniel Webster Coffey was a son of Joel William and Elizabeth Ann Moore Coffey, born Feb. 14, 1858 in Alabama. This family is thought to be in the Edward Coffey-Grace Cleveland line. To my knowledge, Grace and Edward have not been extensively researched.

Other children, all born in Alabama, born to Joel and Elizabeth were:

John James, born c1851, married Martha Virginia Epperson, a daughter of William and Sarah Epperson of Alabama. They married c1871 and had at least seven children: William Ann (female), born c1871; Joel William, born c1874; John D., born Feb. 1878; James Arthur, born Jun. 1882; Oscar O., born Oct., 1885; Buena Vista, born 22 Feb. 1888, died 4 Dec 1959; and Rufus M., born Oct. 1891.

Ann Eliza, born c1852

Joel William, born c1855, married Fannie E.; children were William W., born c1886 and Mary D., born c1895. There may have been others.

Sarah E., born Jan., 1860

Eleanor, born c1861

Joseph, born c1864

Harrison, born c1867

Charles, born c1869

Daniel married Margaret Leeann Coates on Sep. 16, 1877 in Rock Creek, AL. She was born Dec. 5, 1861 in Hot Springs, Garland Co., AR and died Jun. 24, 1928 in Ravia, Johnston Co., OK. Daniel died Apr. 24, 1928 in Ardmore, Carter Co., OK.

More information, including photographs, can be found at the well designed website created by Joan Coffey. She has researched Daniel, her husband's grandfather, quite well and lists her findings in chronological order.

Joan's website can be found here.

Della Maude Coffey

Della is another unknown in my files. She was born c1927 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., TN and married Daugherty D. Harville on Jul. 7, 1953 in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN. He was born Jun. 3, 1924 in Thorn Hill to George Jarvis and Laura Coffey Harville, and died Feb. 26, 1995.

Laura was the daughter of John Cleveland and Margaret Jane Wolfe Coffey. She was born Mar. 2, 1884 in Grainger Co., and died there on Mar 13, 1962. George Jarvis was born Nov. 22, 1882 in Grainger Co., and died there on Mar. 1, 1966.

I have not been able to find Della in the 1930 Grainger Co. census. Please contact me if you can identify her parents.

Collis Hill Coffey

Collis was born c1904 in North Carolina to Lula V. Coffey. His father is not known.

Lula was born Jul., 1883, a daughter of Thomas Clingman and Margaret Coffey Coffey. Thomas' parents were Smith and Charity Redmond Coffey; Margaret's were William, Jr. and Margaret Robbins Coffey.

Collis married Nellie Estelle Sumpter, daughter of William Pendleton and Margaret Ella Robbins Sumpter in 1933, Caldwell Co. [marriage book 41, page 140] Nellie was born in that county on Jan. 14, 1913 and died there on Jul. 20, 1995. Collis died Oct. 3, 1975 in Mecklenburg Co., NC.*

Nellie's obituary:

Nellie Sumpter Coffey, 82, died Thursday, July 20, 1995, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital.

She was born Jan. 14, 1913, in Caldwell County to the late William Pendleton and Margaret Ella Robins Sumpter. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Collis H. Coffey; four brothers, Joe Sumpter, Dewey Sumpter, Leonard Sumpter, and Grady Sumpter; two sisters, Effie Joplin and Pearl Tuttle.

Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker and a member of Crestview Baptist Church. Survivors include one son, Collis H. Coffey, Jr. of Lenoir; one daughter, Mrs. Dale (Maxine) Matheson of Lenoir; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at Blue Ridge Memorial Park, with the Rev. Dean Harrold conducting. The family will receive friends this evening from 7 to 8:30 at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Rich Matheson, Doug McGailliard, Jr., Gary Sumpter, Grady Sumpter, Jr., Robert Roland and Carroll Cloer.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645

In addition to Collis, Lula had at least one other child, a daughter Jessie, born c1912.

Please contact me if you can know who the father was of Collis and Jessie.




*Name: Collis Coffey Death Date: 3 Oct 1975 Death City: Charlotte Death County: Mecklenburg Death State: North Carolina Date Death Recorded: 8 Oct 1975 Death Age: 71 Burial Location: Burial in state Birth Date: 1904 Residence City: Charlotte Residence County: Mecklenburg Gender: Male Race: White Autopsy: No Institution: General Hospital Attendant: Physician Source: NC Department of Health. North Carolina Deaths, 1975

Sarah Deliah Coffey (1864-1897)

Sarah Deli[l]ah was the daughter of James Wilson and Louisa T. Norman Coffey. She was born Feb. 11, 1864 in Morgan Co., IN and died on Jun. 7, 1897 in Svenson, Clatsop Co., OR. She was 33 years old.

Sarah was apparently an accomplished concert violinist, who did not make time to marry. She did bear at least three children, however.

Her first known child was Virgil Benjamin (Bert Snyder) Coffey, born c1891 in Washington Co., IA. Virgil was apparently given up for adoption and was renamed Bert Snyder.

The second and third child were twins: James Norman and Clarence, born Sep. 20, 1896 in Iowa.

Sarah's father, James Wilson was born May 10, 1882 in Pulaski Co., KY, married Louisa, born Jun. 23, 1826 in TN, on Dec. 11, 1842 in Morgan Co., IN. He died Jul 15, 1889 in Wellman, Lime Creek Twp., in Washington Co., IA. Louisa died Dec. 24, 1912 in Warrrenton, Clatsop Co., OR.

Their other children were:

Lemuel Lewis Moses, born Mar 6, 1844, died May 23, 1936

Unnamed, born c1845/46

John Taylor, born May 1847, died Jun. 6, 1926, married Sarah Adeline (Sofie) Gates on Jun. 12, 1880 in Wahkiakum Co., WA. Both died in Svenson, Clatsop Co., OR in the late 1920s.

Benjamin Franklin, born Jan. 28, 1850, died Sep. 28, 1928.

James Norman, born Sep. 30, 1853, died 1934, married Laura Ellen Hays in Lime Creek Twp., Washington Co., IA on Sep 27, 1877. James died in 1934 in Solano Co., CA; Laura on Sep. 19, 1902 in Clatsop Co.

Joseph Lone, born May 19, 1856 in Lime Creek Twp., died Aug. 21, 1927 in West Chester, Washington Co., IA. He married Susanah Wellman on Oct. 3, 1876. She was born May 13, 1850 in Indiana and died Apr. 14, 1919 in West Chester.

Victor Hugo, born May 30, 1858 in Morgan Co., IN, died Apr. 25, 1953 in Astoria, Clatsop Co. He married Anna Mary Brandt, born Aug. 7, 1862 in Mercer Co., NJ, and died Jun. 7, 1941 in Clatsop Co., on Dec. 18, 1881 in Washington Co., IA

Paschal Davis, born Apr. 23, 1861 in Morgan Co., IN, died Nov. 7, 1900 in Washington Co., IA

The last child was also unnamed and was born and died c1866.

It is unlikely that the father(s) of her three children will ever be identified. However, it would be satisfying to learn of the descendants of those children. I would also be interested in learning more about Sarah's professional life.

Benjamin J. Coffey and Candis W. Coffey

Benjamin was born c1813 in Virginia and, married Candis W. Coffey, born c1814, on Jan. 28, 1836 in Nelson Co., VA. [Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850; Benjamin Coffey Candis W. Coffey 28 Jan 1836 Nelson] His parents are unknown.

Candis' father is also unknown; her mother was Nancy Coffey, daughter of William Coffey, Jr., and Mary (Polly) Rippetoe. William, Jr. comes from John Coffey and Jane Graves through their son William, Sr.

Another of William Sr. daughters is Jane who is thought to be the mother of Jordan Coffey who settled Coffeytown in Amherst Co., VA. She later married Benjamin Hawkins Fitzgerald.

Nancy apparently bore at least two other daughters out of wedlock: Sophia, born c1815 and Ann, birth date unknown.

Known children of Benjamin and Candis are:

Peter, born c1839
Susan, born c1842
Sarah A., born c1844, married A. N. North on 23 Oct. 1866 in Nelson Co. [Nelson Co. Book 2, Page 16, Line 70]
Paulina M., born c1848, married J. J. Fonkhoutzer in Dec., 1880, Nelson Co. [Nelson Co. Book 2, Page 46, Line 111]
George W., born 20 Jun 1858, died Aug. 26, 1937, Nelson Co.; married Mary E. Saunders Feb. 1, 1885 [Nelson Co. Book 2, Page 58, Line 9]
Elizabeth (Betty), born c1857, married J. N. Adams Dec. 20, 1881. [Nelson Co. Book 2, Page 48, Line 80]

Please contact me if you can identify the parents of Benjamin and/or the father of Candis.

Looking for Parents of Addie Coffey

Addie married William Henderson Calloway on Nov. 29, 1909 in Carter Co., TN.

I would like to hear from anyone who knows who Addie's parents were.

Personal Opinion

As a genealogist I try to keep up with topical news that might contribute to a continuing education in my chosen hobby. To do this, I subscribe to many genealogy blogs and newsletters in an attempt to keep up to date.

Just recently I read a blog by Leland Metzler entitled "Microfilming of Catholic Parish Records by the LDS Seems to Be a Thing of the Past..." Metzler cited a columnist for the LDNews of Lebanon, PA in which the author, James M. Beidler, writing about the recent Catholic church decision to not allow LDS to microfilm church records because of the LDS practice of "re-baptizing". He suggested that the "Church should rethink stand on digitizing."

I am not Catholic, and I do not have a problem with LDS microfilming church records, Catholic or otherwise. My disagreement comes from the sophomoric and condencending manner in which Mr. Beidler responded to the controversy.

In that column, Mr. Beidler wrote:

"To put it bluntly: I wish the Catholic church would grow up. As many others have said before, other faiths getting upset about this reveals ridiculous insecurities about their own religions."

This remark shows a very shallow view of the world's religions and individual tenents of belief. It implies that he is somewhat superior in thinking, and the rest of the world's religious population are children who have yet to grow up.

I felt that Mr. Beidler's comments merited some rebuttal, so I sent the following e-mail:

Sir:

I read with interest your comments concerning the Catholic Church's refusal to allow LDS to extract records out of concern for their odd practice of re-baptizing non-Mormons.

The sophomoric comment, "To put it bluntly: I wish the Catholic church would grow up. As many others have said before, other faiths getting upset about this reveals ridiculous insecurities about their own religions." was, in my opinion, revealing of your own religious ignorance.

Your comment would seem to indicate you have special insight into the world population's religious "insecurities," but not much about their various beliefs. Outside of the Mormon society, there is a world of a few billion people who do not believe that re-baptism is needed for their ancestors to achieve "everlasting life" that most religions teach.

An overall balanced argument must also include the argument of whether or not the Mormon Church is wrong for continuing the practice of "re-baptism" of people who were never Mormon.

His reply:

Thanks for your opinion.

William Lewis and Martha Cropp Coffey

William and Martha Cropp Coffey, whose headstones can be view by clicking on the title link, have been identified.

William (Willie) is the son of John Robey and Mamie W. Womack Coffey. John, Mamie, William and Martha are buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA.

For those of you have been to Coffeytown and have seen the Coffeytown stone, Willie was the creator.

The following was sent to me by John Taylor:

"Willie painted the rock you photographed which says ”Coffeytown”. It’s the second rock to say that. The house next to the church – the green one – was Charles E Coffey’s house and has been sold out of the family. In his sideyard (away from the church) is a huge bolder, It originally had the word “Coffeytown” painted on it, but the locals ticked off the new owner of the property, so he stripped the paint off the rock. Then “Willie” had a boulder brought in and he painted it with the “Coffeytown” word!

Willie’s son Pike presently lives on the hill to the right of the [new] rock as you see it from the main road."

Lois Coffey Webb Update

Lois Coffey Webb was the daughter of Nelson McKinley Coffey, born Aug. 4, 1898 in Amherst Co., and died May 19, 1958. Nelson was the son of Nathan and Luella Davis Coffey. He is also buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista. Nathan and Louella are buried at Bridge Hill Cemetery near Coffeytown in Amherst Co. Click on the title link to view Lois' grave marker.

Her obituary:

Obituary, The Rockbridge Weekly, Lexington, VA, Jul. 18, 2006

Lois Marie Coffey Webb

Was N. B. Fellowship Church Member

Lois Marie Coffey Webb, 75, of Natural Bridge, died Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in the Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville.

Mrs. Webb was born on July 30, 1930 in Appomattox, a daughter of the late Nelson McKinely and Mary Thompson Coffey.

She was retired from the Natural Bridge, Inc., and was a member of the Natural Bridge Christian Fellowship Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Webb was preceded in death by an infant daughter and a son, Delton Wayne Webb.

Surviving is a daughter and a son-in-law, Marie and Charles Bouchard of Natural Bridge; a sister and brother-in-law, Madeline and Jerry Johnson of Rockbridge Baths; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Lewis M. and Lois Coffey of Lexington, and Aubrey and Mary Frances Coffey of Buena Vista; two grandchildren: Elena Bouchard and Chad Bouchard and his wife, Jammie; and three great grandchildren: Noah, Elizabeth and Tristan.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 20, 2006 in the Natural Bridge Christian Fellowship Church by the Revs. Nathan Phillips, W. David Bain and Conald Fogus. Burial will follow in the Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Service, Buena Vista.

Another child of Nelson and Mary Thompson Coffey was Madeline Coffey. She was born Sep. 17, 1932 and died Sep. 16, 2007.

Her obituary:

The Rockbridge Weekly, Lexington, VA, Sep. 17, 2007

Madeline Coffey Johnson

Bethesda Presbyterian Church Member Dies At Age 74

Madeline Coffey Johnson, 74, of Rockbridge Baths, died Sunday, September 16, 2007 at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

She was born September 17, 1932 in Amherst, a daughter of the late McKinley Coffey and Mary Thompson Coffey.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Lois Webb.

Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Bethesda Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry P. Johnson; three sons: Ronald R. Mull, Smithfield, VA; Richard L. Johnson, Newport News, VA; Michael L. Johnson, Gloucester, VA; one daughter, Linda M. Hartless, Vesuvius; nine grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; two brothers: Lewis Coffey of Lexington and Aubrey Coffey, Buena Vista; and a very special friend, Rosemary Via.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Malcolm Brownlee officiating. Burial will follow in the Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Buena Vista, Virginia.

Henry Moses Coffey of Rockbridge Co., VA

Henry Moses Coffey was born Sep. 20, 1869 in Nelson Co., VA to Alfred and Martha Ann Bradley Coffey. Alfred was the son of Garland and Nancy Coffey Coffey. I have not yet found a death date for Henry Moses.

Henry was married four times. His first marriage was to Julie C. Hymen on Nov. 14, 1889; second to Eva Ramsey on Oct. 26, 1898; third to Alice Ward on Jan. 9, 1904; and finally to Mary Ellena (Mollie) Oliver c1915. He fathered children by wife two through four. His first wife probably died in childbirth.

After studying census records, this is how I think the family shakes out. Please let me know at the above e-mail address of any corrections or additions.

Descendants of Henry Moses COFFEY - May 16, 2008
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First Generation

1. Henry Moses COFFEY was born in Nelson Co, VA on Sep 20, 1869. Henry was the son of Alfred and Martha Ann Bradley Coffey.

Henry Moses COFFEY and Julie C. HYMEN were married on Nov 14, 1889. Julie C. HYMEN [No further information has been found]

Henry Moses COFFEY and Eva RAMSEY were married on Oct 26, 1898. They appeared in the census on Jun 6, 1900 in Walkers Creek, Rockbridge Co., VA.1 Eva RAMSEY was born on Oct 26, 1898. Henry Moses COFFEY and Eva RAMSEY had the following children:

i. Katie L. COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA in May 1900. On Jun 6, 1900 she lived in Walkers Creek, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her parents. On Apr 28, 1910 she lived in Walker Creek, Rockbridge Co., VA as a niece in the household with the Jarvis family.
ii. David H. COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about 1903. On Apr 28, 1910 he lived in Walker Creek, Rockbridge Co., VA as a nephew in the household with the Jarvis family. On Jan 19, 1920 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his father and step-mother.

Henry Moses COFFEY and Alice WARD were married on Jan 9, 1904. They appeared in the census on Apr 28, 1910 in Walker Creek, Rockbridge Co., VA.2 Alice WARD [No further information has been found] Henry Moses COFFEY and Alice WARD had the following children:

2 i. Etta R. COFFEY, born on Feb 21, 1910, Rockbridge Co., VA3; married John W. MEEKS; married Eddie C. GILBERT, on Jan 1, 1940; died on Jan 15, 2006, Buena Vista City, Rockbridge Co., Natural Bridge Dist., VA3.
ii. Martha C. COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about 1912. On Jan 19, 1920 she lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her father and step-mother.

Henry Moses COFFEY and Mary Ellena (Mollie) OLIVER were married about 1915 in Virginia. They appeared in the census on Jan 19, 1920 in Buena Vista City, Rockbridge Co., VA.,4 and the census on Apr 14, 1930 in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA.5 Mary Ellena (Mollie) OLIVER was born in Virginia about 1892. Henry Moses COFFEY and Mary Ellena (Mollie) OLIVER had the following children:

i. Maxie D. COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about Feb 1916. On Jan 19, 1920 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his parents. On Apr 14, 1930 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his parents.
ii. Georgie L. COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about Feb 1919. On Jan 19, 1920 she lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her parents. On Apr 14, 1930 she lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her parents.
iii. Robert COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about 1921. On Apr 14, 1930 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his parents.
3 iv. Hansford Samuel COFFEY, born about 1922, Rockbridge Co., VA; married Thelma KESTERSON; died on May 6, 1947, Nicholas Co., WV6.
v. Voit [?] COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about 1923. On Apr 14, 1930 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his parents.
vi. Elizabeth COFFEY was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about 1925. On Apr 14, 1930 she lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her parents.
vii. Henry Moses COFFEY Jr. was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about May 1927. On Apr 14, 1930 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his parents.
viii. Joyce J. COFFEY was born in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA on Feb 23, 1933.3 She died in Roanoke City, VA on Feb 12, 2003 .3 She was buried on Feb 15, 2003 in Green Hill Cemetery, Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA.3



Second Generation

2. Etta R. COFFEY (Henry Moses-1) was born in Rockbridge Co., VA on Feb 21, 1910.3 On Apr 28, 1910 she lived in Walker Creek, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her parents. On Jan 19, 1920 she lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with her father and step-mother. She died in Buena Vista City, Rockbridge Co., Natural Bridge Dist., VA on Jan 15, 2006 .3 She was buried on Jan 18, 2006 in Green Hill Cemetery, Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA.3

Etta R. COFFEY and John W. MEEKS were married. John W. MEEKS [No further information has been found] Etta R. COFFEY and John W. MEEKS had the following children:

i. Mary MEEKS [No further information has been found]
ii. Della MEEKS [No further information has been found]
iii. Peggy MEEKS [No further information has been found]
iv. Barbara MEEKS [No further information has been found]

Etta R. COFFEY and Eddie C. GILBERT were married on Jan 1, 1940. Eddie C. GILBERT [No further information has been found] Etta R. COFFEY and Eddie C. GILBERT had the following children:

i. Claude E. GILBERT [No further information has been found]

3. Hansford Samuel COFFEY (Henry Moses-1) was born in Rockbridge Co., VA about 1922. On Apr 14, 1930 he lived in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA in the household with his parents. He died in Nicholas Co., WV on May 6, 1947 .6

Hansford Samuel COFFEY and Thelma KESTERSON were married. Thelma KESTERSON [No further information has been found]

Sources

1. United States Federal Census. Original data: United States Federal Census for years indicated. 1900 Rockbridge Co., Walkers Creek, ED105, Sheet 3B, dwelling 50, family 52, Coffee [sic], Henry M., head, white male, born Sep 1870, age 29, single [sic], born VA, parents born VA, farmer; Eva, wife, white female, born Oct., 1876, age 23, single [sic], mother of 1, 1 living, born VA, parents born VA; Katie L., dau., white female, born May 1900, age 0 mos., born VA, parents born VA; Arthers, Walter, Servant, white male, born Jul., 1895, age 5, born VA, parents born VA; Coffee [sic] Lacy, brother, white male, born Sep. 1884, age 35, single, born VA, parents born VA.
2. Ibid., 1910 Rockbridge Co., Walker Creek, ED117, Sheet 9B, dwelling 163, family 170, Coffey, Henry M., head, male, white, age 43, married 3 times, this time for 5 yrs., born VA, parents born VA, farmer; S. Allice, wife, female, white, age 22, married once for 5 yrs., mother of 3, 1 living, born VA, parents born VA; Etta R., dau., female, white, age 2, born VA; family 171, Jarvis, Charlie N., head, male, white, age 43, married once for 22 yrs., born VA, parents born VA, farm laborer; Eliza A., wife, female, white, age 44, married once for 22 yrs., mother of 4, 4 living, born VA, parents born VA; Howard N., son, male, white, age 17, single, born VA; Lula M., dau., female, white, age 15, single, born VA; Lennie S., dau., female, white, age 10, single, born VA; Coffey, Katie E., niece, female, white, age 9, born VA; Coffey, David H., nephew, male, white, age 7, born VA.
3. Information from obituary.
4. United States Federal Census. Original data: United States Federal Census for years indicated. 1920 Rockbridge Co., Buena Vista City, Ward 2, ED74, Sheet 22B, dwelling 415, family 312, Coffey, Henry M., head, male, white, age 51, married, born VA, parents born VA, boiler engineer on ore and iron furnace; Mollie L., wife, female, white, age 28, married, born VA, parents born VA; David H., son, male, white, age 17, single, born VA; Etta R., dau., female, white, age 10, single, born VA; Martha C., dau., female, white, age 8, single, born VA; Maxie D., son, male, white, age 3 yrs., 11 mos., born VA; Georgie L., dau., female, white, age 11 mos., born VA.
5. Ibid., 1930 Rockbridge Co., Buena Vista independant city, ED2, Sheet 16A, 29th St., dwelling 308, family 341, Coffey, Henry M., head, male, white, age 60, married first at age 21, born VA, parents born VA, laborer at odd jobs; Mary, wife, female, white, age 41, married first at age 23, born VA, parents born VA, Hodges, William, son-in-law, male, white, age 19, married at age 18, born VA, parents born VA, laborer at odd jobs; Ada, dau., female, white, age 19, married at age 19, born VA, parents born VA; May, g-dau., female, white, age 10 mos., born VA, parents born VA; Coffey, Maxie, son, male, white, age 14, born VA; Robert, son, male, white, age 9, born VA; Hasford [?], son, male, white, age 8, born VA; Voit, son, male, white, age 7, born VA; Elizabeth, dau., female, white, age 5, born VA; Henry M., Jr., son, male, white, age 2 yrs., 5 mos., born VA. [The daughter Ada is probably Martha].
6. Family Search Labs Record Search, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints online [http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html?datestamp=1206010271812], accessed Various. Name : Hansford Samuel Coffey Death date : 06 May 1947 Death place : Nicholas, West Virginia Gender : Male Age at death : 25 years 9 months 3 days Birth date : 1922 Birth place : Marital status : Married Spouse name : Thelma Kesterson Father name : Henry Moses Coffey Father birth place : Mother name : Mary Ellena Oliver Film number : 1983942 Digital GS number : 4260152 Image number : 357 Reference number : 9348 Source : Statewide Collection : West Virginia Deaths 1853-1970.

More Green Hill Cemetery Headstones

Green Hill Cemetery,  Buena Vista, VA

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 Please contact me at the above e-mail address is you can identify these folks and their ancestors. Click on the image to see a larger image.

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Updated Jan 8, 2011

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Son of John Robey & Mamie Womack Coffey

Mary, w/o Nelson McKinley Coffey

Who were/are Philip's parents?

Still need her husband & family

Daughter of Nelson McKinley & Mary
Thompson Coffey.  Who was her husband?

Wife of Finley Houston Coffey
Her maiden name was Tomlin

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

The McCreary County Record Online edition, May 17, 2007, describes the addition of Oliver Slaven of McCreary Co., KY to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The article was authored by Record staff writer Janie Slaven, the great-granddaughter of Oliver Slaven.

"Sunday, May 9, 1920, began much like any other day for the family man. While on duty that morning, Slaven attempted to arrest a miner named Cole Coffey after finding him with eight quarts of whiskey but the man escaped. Later in the afternoon while searching the crowd at the Stearns baseball diamond where a game was in progress, one of the spectators advised Slaven that Coffey was hiding at a nearby residence. During his second attempt to arrest Coffey, the fugitive shot Deputy Slaven three times."

Click on the title link to read the complete article.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can identify the family of Cole Coffey.

Hilda Marie Coffey 1939-1940

Hilda Marie is another Coffey buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, VA. She may be the daughter of Fermin H. Coffey. He is the only male Coffey that I find in my file from that area with a name that fits the initials on the headstone.

Fermin was born c1900 in Rockbridge Co., VA to Matthew D. and Willie Jane Ramsey Coffey. I have not found a wife for him.

Anyone who can help may contact me at the above e-mail address.

Hilda A. Coffey 1944-1948

This is another Coffey gravesite found in Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, VA that I need help identifying.

According to the headstone, Hilda was born on Aug. 30, 1944 and died Apr. 25, 1988. I do not know if she married a Coffey, or was born and died a Coffey.

Anyone who can help can contact me via the above e-mail address.

Gilmer Clinton and Catherine Wiseman Coffey

This couple is buried at the Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, Virginia.

According to the headstone, Gilmer was born Nov. 27, 1909 and died Jun. 23, 1951. Catherine was born Apr. 17, 1919. There is no death date for Catherine on the stone.

I need help finding his parents. A search of the census record for 1910 failed to find him.

Anyone with information can contact me at the above e-mail address.

Jacob Morris Coffey 1880-1922 [Updated]

Jacob Morris Coffey was a son of Alfred and Martha Ann Bradley Coffey in the Edmond Coffey line. Jacob was born Mar. 15, 1880 in Nelson Co., VA and died May 23, 1922 in Rockbridge Co., VA. He married Mary Jane Lotts Mar. 26, 1902 in Virginia. She was born Aug. 26, 1882.

Their children were Samuel David, born c1903; Ella Cornelia, born c1905; Florence Dell, born c1906; James Alfred, born May 8, 1908; Saylor Marshall, born Mar. 3, 1910; Lottie Mae, born c1912; Roy Martin, born Jul. 19, 1914, died Nov. 25, 1972; Salathial Coolie, born Sep. 15, 1916, died Aug. 23, 1924; John Henry, born Feb. 2, 1920, died May 26, 1990; and Mary Stuart, born c1922.

The photo is of descendants of Jacob and Mary who attended the Coffey Cousins' Reunion in Raphine. Left to right in the back is: Berman "Cotton" Coffey, Judy Ferguson, Clara May Coffey Johnston (d/o Bonnie Burjois, seated right front). Left front is Betty Coffey Funkhouser.



This is an interior shot of the Macedonia Church ceiling in Coffeytown, and was taken by Bonnie Burjois. The Church was established in 1896, and is now under the protection of the Macedonia Community Association in Coffeytown. All of the interior wood is from Chestnut trees.

Dawson Henry Coffey 1875-1934

Dawson Henry (or, Henry Dawson on WW1 draft registration and Henry D. on his headstone) was born on Jul. 4, 1875 in Nelson Co., VA. He died on Aug. 13, 1934 and was buried in the Green Hill Cemetery at Buena Vista in Rockbridge Co., VA.


When he registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Rockbridge Co., he was described as being short and slender with blue eyes and brown hair. He was at the time 43 years old, and gave his birthdate as Jul. 4, 1875. Henry was then a farmer who resided at Buena Vista with his wife, Katie.

He and Katie appeared in the census record from 1900 through 1930 in Buena Vista. In 1900 he gave his occupation as "laborer." In 1920 and 1930 he gave his occupation as "teamster." In those days and that place, being a teamster had nothing to do with driving a truck. However, the jobs were the same. A teamster in those days generally had their own team of horses and, hired out to move or haul furniture, equipment, etc.

Katie was Katherine Davidson, born in Aug., 1879 in Amherst Co., VA. She died on Jul. 12, 1937, probably in Rockbridge Co. She too is buried at Green Hill.

There were eight children born to the marriage:

Littie, born Aug. 12, 1900, died Sep. 7, 1958.

Walker Lee, born Mar. 3, 1904, died Sep. 11, 1947. Walker married Sarah Montgomery on May 24, 1924 in Buena Vista. She was born Jan. 12, 1908 in Buena Vista and died there on Sep. 24, 1990. They had at least one child, Thurman L., born Oct. 13, 1929, died Feb. 21, 1991. Thurman is buried at Green Hill. I do not yet know where Walker and Sarah are buried.

Eva Lena, born Aug. 30,1908 in Nelson Co., and died Mar. 28, 1963 in Lexington, VA. She married Horace Orey Pugh on Mar. 16, 1936 in Buena Vista. Horace ws born there on Oct. 3, 1894 and died there on mar. 14, 1958. Both are buried at Green Hill.

Eva's obituary:

Obituary, Roanoke Times

Mrs. Eva Coffey Pugh, 55, died last Thursday morning in a Lexington hospital. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Edward Potter, Buena Vista; one son, Marshall Ray Pugh, Buena Vista; three sisters, Mrs. James Fitzgerald, Miss Myrtle Coffey, both of Buena Vista, Mrs. Jewel Everett, Maryland; one brother, Russell Coffey, Glasgow; four grandchildren. funeral services were held at 4 PM Saturday at the Pentecostal Holiness Church by the Rev. B. L. Underwood. Burial was in Green Hill Cemetery.

William McKenley, born Jan. 26, 1909 in Nelson Co., and died Aug. 30, 1998 in Buena Vista. He married Annie Burley in Buena Vista on Sep. 27, 1926. Annie was born May 22, 1907 in Amherst Co., and died on Aug. 30, 1998 in Buena Vista. Both are buried in Green Hill.

Annie's Obituary:

Chittum, Annie Burley, 91 of Buena Vista, died Sunday, August 20, 1998 [sic] at Shenandoah Valley Health Care Center. She was born May 22, 1907 in Amherst County, daughter of the late James Burley and Sarah Lawhorne Burley. She was preceded in death by two husbands, William Coffey and George T. Chittum. She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Frances Burley and Blanch Burley, both of Covington, several nieces and nephews, a stepson, Thomas Chittum of Covington, many stepgrandchildren and a special friend, Ruby Humphries of Buena Vista. Graveside services will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday in Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Service.

Myrtle Idell, born Dec. 14, 1911, died Sep. 8, 1988

Mabel L., born Sep. 15, 1912, died May 16, 1989

Mamie Virginia, born May 6, 1915 in Rockbridge Co., died Feb. 24, 1973 in Lexington. Mamie was married on May 23, 1942 in Lynchburg, VA to James Henry Fitzgerald, born in Rockbridge Co. on Jan. 12, 1897. James passed away on Jan. 27, 1972 in Lexington.

Russell Henry Coffey was born Apr. 11, 1920 in Rockbridge Co., and died on Jan. 23, 1998 in Roanoke, VA. He married Elizabeth (Nettie) Wheeler. Russell is buried in the Glasgow Cemetery in Rockbridge Co. I have no further information on Nettie.

Russell's Obituary

Obituary, Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA

Coffey, Russell Henry, 77, of Natural Bridge Station, died Friday, January 23, 1998 at Roanoke Community Hospital, Roanoke, Va. Born August 11, 1920 he was the son of the late Henry D. and Catherine Davis Coffey. He was a farmer and retired from the N & W Railroad after 31 years service. He was a veteran of WW II. He was preceded in death by a son, Russell "Boona" Coffey. Surviving are his wife, Myrtle Campbell Coffey, eight children, Joyce Pugh, Buena Vista, Kenneth Coffey, Buena Vista, Hazel Link, Natural Bridge, Kathy Walters, Timber Ridge, Darrell Coffey, Clifton "Chuck" Coffey, Tammy Coffey, and Daniel Coffey, all of Natural Bridge, sixteen grandchildren and nine great-granschildren. funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, January 26, 1998 at the Lomax Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ralph VanNess officiating. Burial will follow in the Glasgow Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lomax Funeral Home.

More information on this family is available from Marshall Pugh, who contributed the photograph and his family history.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address for additions or corrections.

Peter Virgil (Squire) Coffey

Peter Virgil (Squire) Coffey was a son of Charles B. and Theodora Everette Coffey. In most census records, Theodora's given name is unreadable, but seems to confirm that it was Theodora. However, it was given as Ophelia in Squire's obituary.

Squire was born on Jun. 15, 1849 in Nelson Co., VA and died on May 21, 1937 in Stuarts Draft, Augusta Co., VA. He married Betty Catherine Kennedy on Dec. 24, 1879 in Augusta Co. They lived in that county all of their married life, and raised all of their children there.

His obituary:

STUARTS DRAFT, May 28-, -- Peter V. Coffey, peacefully passed to his heavenly home, at his residence at Stuarts Draft at one a. m. Friday, May 21, 1937, after an illness of about a month. He was born in Nelson county June 15, 1849, of Scottish descent, his father having been Charles Coffey and his mother Ophelia Coffey (nee Everet). He moved to Augusta county when a young man and spent the rest of his long and useful life in, and in the vicinity of Stuarts Draft where he engaged in farming, lumbering, etc. For the last twenty years of his life he was justice of the peace and was known as "Squire Coffey."

Mr. Coffey was united in marriage to Miss Bettie Catherine Kennedy, of Augusta county, Dec. 24, 1879. To this marriage were born four daughters and five sons. His wife, who passed away June 17, 1930, and a son and two daughters preceded him in death. Children survive: J. E. and J. L., of Mint Spring; the Rev. H. S., pastor of Granbery Memorial M. E. church, South, Covington; Mrs. M. E. Elliott, Staunton; Russel E., Bluefield, W. Va., and Mrs. Roy Black, Stuarts Draft, who tenderly cared for him after the death of Mrs. Coffey.

Mr. Coffey united with the Baptist church in early life, but many years ago transferred his membership to the M. E. church, South, in which he was an efficient and faithful member and held an official relation for many years, having been a delegate frequently to the annual and district conferences and was a member of the board of stewards of Calvary church at the time of his death. He was interested in the work of his adopted church until his death, often inquiring about the progress of the work through his pastor and others. He spoke of death as one who was preparing for a pleasant journey. Death did not hold any terrors to him. He had implicit faith in God for the forgiveness of sin through the atonement of Jesus Christ. He loved his church and the ministry of his church; always was ready to speak a good word about the former pastors of his church. He dearly loved his children and was held in the highest esteem and devotion by his children and his grandchildren, of which he had a number. Mr. Coffey had been a prominent figure in his community for many years, in his church, in business, in clean politics, and in everything that was for the betterment of humanity.

His funeral service was conducted from Calvary church Sunday, May 23, at three p. m. by his pastor, the Rev. A. Van Devander, as-sisted by Dr. E. L. Woolf, pastor of the Harrisonburg M. E. church, South; the Rev. H. W. Craver, pastor of Greenville M. E. church, South, and the Rev. T. H. Campbell, pastor of Stuarts Draft Baptist church. His body was tenderly laid at rest in the cemetery adjoining Calvary church. It is said by some that his funeral was attended by the largest concourse of people that ever assembled at Calvary church. Less than half of the people could get in the church.

At his own request the stewards of Calvary church were the active pallbearers: J. T. Almarode, Alden D. Rader, A. G. Painter, C. L. Dodge, I. F. Fitzgerald, H. L. Henkel, W. Y. Boyd, E. M. Conner, and Layton Thacker.

The following hymns were sung: "The Solid Rock," "Home of the Soul," as a solo and "How Firm a Foundation." His pastor chose as his theme, "God's Harvest Home;" text, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season," Job 5:26.

Their children were:

Charles Franklin Coffey, born Jan., 1876

John Emmett Coffey, born May 9, 1877, died Nov. 5, 1942.

His obituary:

Obituary, a Staunton newspaper, Nov., 1942

John Emmett Coffey, sixty-five, died at eleven o’clock Thursday morning following a three hours illness. Mr. Coffey had gone to his work at the State highway camp near Greenville and suffered a stroke shortly after arriving. He was taken to the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. C. Yowell, where he died. Mr. Coffey was born in Augusta county May 9, 1877 and was the son of Peter V. and Betty Kennedy Coffey. He spent his entire life in the county, and for thirteen years was connected with the County Highway department, after which he went with the State Highway department. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Melissa Coffey; two daughter, Miss Inez Elizabeth Coffey, of Stuarts Draft; Mrs. W. C. Yowell, of Greenville; one son, Rudolph W. Coffey at home; six grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. M. E. Elliott, of Staunton, Mrs. R. H. Black, of Stuarts Draft; two brothers, Russell E. Coffey, of Bluefield, W. Va., and the Rev. Dr. Harry S. Coffey, of Danville, Va.

Funeral Saturday.

The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at three o’clock from the Mint Spring Methodist church of which he was a member, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. Z. V. Johnson. Burial will be in Calvary church cemetery. Active pallbearers will be W. P. Jennings, L. A. Campbell, Roy Glenn, P. G. Nuchols, Wallace Rosen, Charles Tyree, William Chandler, Walter Carrier, Ernest Coiner, and W. H. Agnor. Honorary pallbearers will be Russell Swisher, Roy Kesterson, Lewis Arehart, Mr. Proffitt, William Ramsey, W. L. Helmick, Wallace Hayes, Herman Coyner, W. H. Roadcap, Bedford Curry, A. Miller, Stuart Benson, Frank Glenn, Dr. W. C. Roller, E. J. Eavers and Mr. Cummings.

James Leonard, born Nov. 11, 1879, Augusta Co., died Jul. 14, 1941, Mint Spring, Augusta Co. He married Bertie May Shue on Dec. 24, 1900 in Augusta Co. Bertie was born in May, 1881 to John W. and Elizabeth S. Alvis Shue.

His obituary:

Obituary, a Staunton newspaper, Jul., 1941

JAMES L. COFFEY DIES AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS

James Leonard Coffey died Monday afternoon at five o'clock at his home in Mint Spring after being ill since Saturday night.

He was born at Stuarts Draft, on Nov. 11, 1879, and was a son of the late P. V. Coffey and Mrs. Betty Catherine Coffey. He has made his home at Mint Spring for many years where he was an active merchant and farmer. He was a man of sterling character and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him, taking an active part in all community affairs and lending a helping hand to anyone who wished his advice or help in any way.

He has been a member of Mint Springs Methodist church for thirty five years. During his active membership he served in many capacities, including steward, superintendent of the Sunday school for many years, and a teacher of Ladies' Bible class.

He is survived by wife, Mrs. Bertie May Coffey, three daughters; Mrs. B. H. Hudson of Orange, Mrs. H. S. Strawn of Gary, Ind., and Mrs. J. Ray Strawn of Birmingham, Ala.; three sons: Paul H. Coffey of Roanoke, James A. Coffey of Palmyra, and Richmond Lee Coffey of Mint Spring; two sisters; Mrs. M. E. Elliott of Staunton, and Mrs. Roy Black of Stuarts Draft; three brothers, J. Emmett Coffey of Mint Spring, Dr. H. S. Coffey of Roanoke, and R. E. Coffey of Bluefield, W. Va. Three grandchildren also survive.

The funeral will be held Wed-nesday afternoon at two o'clock from Mint Spring Methodist church. The Rev. Z. V. Johnson, pastor, will officiate.

Place of internment will be announced later.

Bessie Brown Coffey, born Jan. 1, 1882

Harry Scott Coffey, born Dec. 6, 1889

Annie Bell Coffey, born c1890

Mary Sue Coffey, born Dec., 1892

Russell E. Coffey, born c1894. He married Ada C. Holtz c1908 in Virginia. Their children were Helen L., born c1911; Russell Lee, born c1916, and Marjorie Elizabeth, born Oct. 5, 1923, died Mar. 27, 2006.

Marjorie's obituary:

Obituary, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV, Mar. 30, 2006

Miss Marjorie Elizabeth Coffey

ROANOKE, Va. — Miss Marjorie Elizabeth Coffey, 82, formerly of 3009 Bluefield Ave., Bluefield, died Monday, March 27, 2006 in a Roanoke nursing home.

Born Oct. 5, 1923 in Bluefield, she was a daughter of the late Russell E. and Ada C. Holtz Coffey. Miss Coffey was a member of the St. Mary's Episcopal Church of Bluefield, Va. and a graduate of Bluefield College. She was formerly employed at Bluefield Optical as an office manager.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother: Russell Lee Coffey, and sister: Helen Bone.

Survivors include a niece; Nancy Arwood of Kentucky and several cousins.

Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2006 from the Maple Park Cemetery located in Bluefield with the Rev. Russ Hatfield officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations if desired, may be made to the Mercer County Humane Society, 1003 Shelter Rd., Princeton, WV 24740.

Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages may do so by visiting www.mercerfuneralhome.com

Mercer Funeral Home and Crematory of Bluefield is serving the Marjorie Coffey family.

Ruby Lee Coffey, born Jun. 23, 1895, died Jul. 6, 1991. She married Roy Hamilton Black, born c1894 in VA, died c1916 in VA. Their children were Inez, born c1916, and Sherwood, born c1926.

Ruby's obituary:

Obituary, The Staunton News Leader, 8 Jul 1991.

Mrs. Ruby Lee (Coffey) Black 96, widow of Roy Hamilton Black, and formerly of Churchville Ave., died at 10:20 p.m. Saturday (July 6, 1991) in the Liberty House Nursing Home, Waynesboro after a three month illness. She was born on June 21, 1895, in Augusta County, a daughter of the late Peter V. and Betty (Kennedy) Coffey. Mrs. Black was retired from the Leggett Department Stores with 17 years service. She was the oldest active member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Stuarts Draft, and was a member of the Staunton Senior Citizens. Mrs. Black's husband preceded her in death on March 16,1951. Survivors include a son, H. Sherwood Black, of Stuarts Draft; a daughter, Ms. Margaret A. Black, of Staunton; 5 grandchildren; 8 great- grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Black was the last surviving member of her immediate family. A service will be conducted at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Calvary United Methodist Church by the Rev. Dr. Roy O. Creech and Rev. Kenneth B. Frank. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Bruce Frank, Dr. J.W. Forbes III, Walton Henkel, Jack Crummett, Ralph Weaver and Jack Clem. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Clark, Doug Hanger, Eddie Eavers, Earl Fitzgerald, John Wood, Bob Puffenbarger, B.G. Fitzgerald Jr., Elliott Boyd, Billy Dameron, Dr. Dennis Hatter and Don Crosier. The family will receive friends this evening from 7 until 8 p.m. in the Henry Funeral Home and other times at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Linda Harris, 55 George St., Staunton or the home of H. Sherwood Black, Rt. 1, Stuarts Draft. It is suggested that those desiring may make memorial donations to Calvary United Methodist Church P.O. Box 95, Stuarts Draft, Va. 24477.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to, or correct any of this information.

2008 Coffey Cousins' Reunion Photographs

I have completed the upload of the photos taken at the 2008 Coffey Cousins' reunion.

All of them were taken by either myself, or Joe Culley. Joe is credited with most of the shots of the group preparing to leave for Coffeytown, Slaton's stream and falls as well as all of the flora. The remainder are mostly by me and include photos in the conference room, dining room, Coffeytown, etc.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address should you find yourself in the photos, and I have failed to identify you, or have you incorrectly identified.

Click on the title link to view the shots.

The 2008 Coffey Cousins' Reunion Is History

If you missed the 26th annual Coffey Cousins' Reunion, held at Raphine, VA this year, then you missed one of the better gatherings! There were 62 of us who shared dinner on Saturday night, and more than 50 who made the trip to Coffeytown.

The weather was especially ordered by local Coffey families! It could not have been better. There was one short shower - just enough to settle the pollen (sort of!) - but we were all in the meeting room and hardly noticed.


The caterer delivered delicious lunches and cold drinks to us at Coffeytown. We had planned to have lunch inside the church but, the weather was so great everyone found a reasonably comfortably spot outside to "dine."

This countryside is some of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. Wild flowers thrive here, and wildlife is everywhere to be seen. I can understand why these hearty ancestors chose to settle here. Roads are steep and winding, and I'm certain they are in much better condition now than they ever were in those early years. It must have been mild torture for animals as well as man to have made gardens, or traveled to nearby towns. But, both man and beast were compensated for their labors; man by the sheer beauty of the site and for the beasts by the abundant availability of browse.

More photos will be available later on the Coffey Cousins' website





The 2009 Reunion is being planned by Danny Coffey and his wife Glenda, and will be held in Jamestown, Russell Co., KY from May 1-3.

Start planning now to attend. Many of your ancestors came from Russell Co. and well as the surrounding Wayne and Rockcastle counties. If you missed Virginia, you don't want to miss this one!