Roxanna Coffey (1858 NC-1946 TX)

Roxanna was a daughter of Athan and Mary "Polly" McGuire Coffey.  She was the eighth of their 10 known children and until I stumbled upon her death certificate, she was one of several for which I had no clue what happened to.  She was born Sep. 19, 1858 in North Carolina and died in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX on Nov. 30, 1946.

Frank & Marty NC Birth Record

She was likely born in Cherokee Co. where he family lived at least through June of 1860.  In July of 1870 the family was enumerated in Towns Co., GA.  It was in that county where Rosanna married her first husband, Joseph B. Byers on Jan. 5, 1875*.  That marriage produced two sons, Ephriam, c1876 and Joseph, Jr., c1877.  Joseph died in 1878 and was buried at the Old Union Cemetery in Young Harris, Towns Co.

For reasons not apparent to me, Roxanna returned to North Carolina where she was married c1885 to James P. Evans, born in GA, c1845.  That union produced another six children:  Luther M., born Jan., 1886; George R., born Apr., 1888; Murty (?), born Jan., 1890; Marty May, born Jan. 27, 1892**, Brasstown, Clay Co., NC; Frank Edman, born May 16, 1894** in Warne, Clay Co., and Jennie (?) P., born c1899.

At some point between the Jun. 1900 census in Brasstown and the Apr. 1910 census, Roxanne became a widow again and moved with part of her family to Grayson Co., TX.  She was enumerated there with her daughters Marty May and Jennie (?), and son Frank, where they farmed.

Around 1913. Frank married a lady by the name of Lenna.  In 1930, this family was in Littlefield, Lamb Co., TX.  Roxanna lived with them.  She died on Nov. 30, 1946 of acute broncho pneumonia at St. Vincent Hospital in Sherman, Grayson Co. and was laid to rest there at West Hill Cemetery.

I have not yet found any of her children with Joseph Byers and, so far, I have found only Frank of her Evans children.

Roxanna's sisters, Mary Emaline and Sarah Jane also married Byers men in Towns Co.  I'm certain these husbands must be related to Joseph, Roxie's first husband.  Mary Emaline married David J. Byers on Feb. 15, 1873* in Towns Co.  Sarah Jane married Phidella Ceburn Byers on Jul. 30, 1870*, also in Towns Co.  Phidella died Mar. 29, 1929 and Sarah on Feb. 8, 1942.  Both are buried at Ivylog Cemetery, in Union Co.

Contact me if you can fill in any blanks!

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Update Oct. 23, 2011:  Roxanna's older sister, Sarah Jane, was born in NC on Feb. 16, 1853 and died in Union Co., GA on Feb. 8,1942.  Phidella Ceburn Byers was born Oct. 27, 1845 in NC and died Mar. 29, 1929 in Union Co., GA.  Both are buried at the Ivy Log Cemetery in Union Co.  This couple had at least 11 children.  The only one that I have so far found is Lawrence, born May 2, 1892 in NC, died Jan. 1, 1971 in Union Co.  He and his wife Lillian, and perhaps a child or two, are also buried at Ivy Log.

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*Georgia State Archives, "Towns County Marriage Records 1855-1904," book from microfilm, Georgia State Archives, Georgia's Virtual Vault (http://cdm.sos.state.ga.us/index.php, Pages5,  6,and 7,  Marriage Record, Byers brothers to Coffee [sic] sisters.
**Delayed NC birth certificate