Singing on the (Grandfather) Mountain

The 83d Annual Singing on the Mountain will be held Jun. 24, 2007 at the base of Grandfather Mountain near Boone, NC.

The event website - click on title link to visit - describes this as a "...day-long gathering held out-of-doors in a meadow at the base of Grandfather Mountain" where "...some of the top Southern Gospel groups will perform."

In the photo is John Wesley "Happy John" Coffey and was taken in 1963 at the 39th Singing on the Mountain.

Happy John was born Aug. 6, 1877 in Watauga Co., a son of Joseph R. Coffey and Martha Elizabeth Gragg. He married Ella Adelaide Henderson on Feb. 9, 1901 in Watauga Co., NC.

Their children numbered five:

Charlie Edward Coffey, born Oct. 10, 1900, died unknown; married Georgia Missouri Coffey, daughter of George Calvin and Louisa Elizabeth "Lou" Curtis.

Cordie Myrtle Coffey, born Feb. 25, 1902, died Jun. 17, 1978; married Lloyd Edgar Coffey, born Jun. 26, 1899 in North Carolina, died Jan. 23, 1988. Lloyd was a son of Walter Gwyn and Julia Hayes Coffey.

Zadia Elizabeth Coffey, born May 24, 1903, died Feb. 23, 1996; married William McKinley Bolick. He was born Apr. 17, 1895 in Rufus, Caldwell Co., NC and died Jul. 5, 1977 in Watauga County.

James Herman Coffey, born Dec. 5, 1904 in the Globe community of Watauga Co., died Mar. 14, 1979 in Boone. He married Hildred Myrt Church, born Aug. 4, 1907. She was the daughter of Joseph Commodore and Nora Rebecca Hollifield Church.

Dolphus Sylvester Coffey, born Aug. 8, 1906 in the Globe, died Dec. 13, 1981 in Blowing Rock. He married Bessie Downs, born Aug. 19, 1907, died May. 14, 1997 in Blowing Rock.

Some vital information is still missing but I hope to have more research completed shortly.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections.

Clipping and photograph courtest Margaret Coffey Farley

Emma Viola Coffey

Corrected Information

Emma Viola Coffey was the sister of Lee Ella Coffey who married William Washington Collins. She was born Nov. 2, 1888 in Caldwell Co. Emma is thought to have died in about 1987, a year or so shy of her 100th birthday.

She married Emory Joel Young Dec. 28, 1907 in Watauga Co. Emory was born Apr. 4, 1882 and died Mar. 14, 1929 in North Carolina.

Emma and Emory had at least six children:

Charles Howell, born Sep. 26, 1910

Mary Lou, born Apr. 2, 1913, died 2000

Thomas Wood, born Nov. 25, 1915

Emery Hugh, born Oct. 25, 1917

Hardin Darrell, born Jul. 3, 1920

Rawleigh Edgar, born Oct. 7, 1922

Mary Lou's obituary, probably from the local Watauga Democrat or Blowing Rocket newspaper, reads:

Mrs. Suddreth

Mrs. Mary Lou Young Suddreth, age 87, of 1471 Payne Branch Road, Blowing Rock, widow of John T. "Jay" Suddreth, died Saturday, September 23 at Blowing Rock Hospital.

Mrs. Suddreth was born April 2, 1913 in the Shull's Mills community of Watauga County, a daughter of the late Emory Joel and Emma Viola Coffey Young. She was a retired weaver from Goodwin Weavers in Blowing Rock, and a member of the Perkinsville Baptist Church in Boone.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Shoemake of Blowing Rock; two granddaughters, Michele Shoemake of Lakewood, Colorado and Emma Louise russell of Sunrise, Florida; three grandsons, Doyle Shoemake of Lakeland, Florida; Richard Shoemake and Joseph Shoemake, both of Blowing Rock; and one brother, Hugh Young and wife Florence, of Monetta, South Carolina. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Suddreth was preceded in death by six brothers; Howard, Charlie, Thomas, Hardin, Edgar and Wesley Young.

Graveside services were conducted on Tuesday morning at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock. Officiating were the Rev. Vance Triplett and the Rev. David Austin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service of Boone was in charge of the arrangements.

Photo courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley

Lee Ella Coffey (Corrected Info)

William Washington and Lee Ella Coffey Collins

Lee Ella Coffey was born Nov., 1881 in Caldwell Co., NC to Thomas Avery Coffey and Louisa E. Gragg. She was a grand-daughter of Austin Coffey and Mary A. Blaylock, and half-niece to the infamous Keith Blaylock.

Lee Ella is shown here with her second husband, William Washington Collins, born c1867 in Georgia. They were married c1903 in North Carolina.

She and William had at least three children:

• E. Spencer Halton, born Oct. 9, 1903
• De Estia Sylvia*, born Dec. 14, 1905
• Thomas William Staple, born Sep. 6, 1915

Lee and William also adopted Norma Pauline Coffey, the daughter of Olin James Coffey.
Lee Ella's first husband was Joseph Commodore Church, born Jul. 1878 in North Carolina. They had one child, a daughter Alma who married Orville Johnson of Tennessee.

*Some comments to me indicate that her given name was Deatte but was called Sally. The NC Birth Index lists her as De Estia Sylvia Collins**.

Her obituary reads:

Miss Sally Collins, age 92, of 112 Collins Store Road, Blowing Rock, died Thursday morning, January 15 [1997], at Watauga Medical Center.

A retired motel owner and operator and former merchant, Miss Collis was born at Shulls Mills on December 14, 1905, a daughter of the late W.W. and LeElla Coffey Collins. She was a member of the Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church.

Miss Collins is survived by one sister, Norma Hodges*** and husband, Rev. Howard Hodges of Morganton, N.C.; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Edna Hampton of Boone, two nephews, William S. Collins, Jr. of Conway, South Carolina and Roy Johnson of Kingsport, Tennessee; four nieces, Sharon Dowdy of Altamont Springs, Florida, Ernestine Nanny of Marion, S.C., Rebecca Parsons, of Lexington, N.C. and Susan Ballard of Charlotte, N.C.; several great nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.W. and LeElla Coffey Collins, two brothers, Staple Collins and Spencer Collins, two half brothers and two half sisters.

Funeral services for Miss Collins were conducted Saturday, January 18 at The Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church. Officiating was the Rev. Ronnie Jones and the Rev. Gordon Nobles. Interment followed in the Boone Fork Cemetery.

Memorials may be considered to the Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church, in care of Susan Coffey, 146, Wilson Coffey Road, Blowing Rock, NC 25605.

Austin and Barnes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

**Name: De Estia Sylvia Collins Date of Birth: 14 Dec 1905 Gender: Female Race: White Birth County: Watauga Parent1 Name: William Washington Collins Parent2 Name: Lee Ella Coffey Roll Number: B_C102_66001 Volume: 18 Page: 53

***Norma Pauline Coffey Hodges died on Nov. 9, 2003 in Denton, Davidson Co., NC. Her obituary reads:

DENTON--Mrs. Norma C. Hodges, 79, of Denton, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003, at her home. Born in Watauga County on June 3, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Olin J. and Estie Coffey Coffey and was a homemaker and a member of Zion Baptist Church in Morganton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, the Rev. Howard Thomas Hodges, who died April 20, 2001. She also was preceded in death by her foster family, Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Collins, Sally Collins, Spencer and Staple Collins.

She is survived by daughters, Rebecca Parsons and husband, Lloyd, of Denton, and Susan Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C.; grandchildren, Jessica, Caitlin and Robb Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C. and Jen Parsons of Richlands and Amanda Perez of High Point.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Zion Baptist Church in Morganton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Cedar Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1048, Linwood, N.C. 27299.

Briggs Funeral Home in Denton is assisting the family.

Photo courtesy of Margaret Coffey Farley

James Edward Coffey (1934-2004)

James Edward Coffey was the fourth child and oldest son of Clayton McDonald (Mack) and Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey. He was born Sep. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC and died Jan. 11, 2004 in Crestview, Okaloosa Co., FL.

Obituary, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV, Jan. 16, 2004, and the Lenoir News-Topic, Jan. 17, 2004

James E. Coffey

CRESTVIEW, Fla. - James E. Coffey, MSGT, USMC, retired, 69, of Crestview, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004.

He was born on Sept. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, N.C., and moved to Crestview 17 years ago from Matoaka. He retired from USMC after 27 years of service.

Mr. Coffey was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Lonnie Ray Coffey and Clayton Coffey Jr.; one sister: Mrs. Floyd (Nellie) Coffey; two sons: Rocky and Carl Gene Coffey.

Survivors include his three sons: Curt Coffey of Fallbrook, Calif., Steven Coffey of Blowing Rock, Brad Coffey of Carlsbad, Calif.; three sisters: Mrs. Vencil (Bertha) Akers of Cambridge, Md., Virginia Bailey of Qwinton, Va., Margaret Farley of Blowing Rock; friend: Kim Staley of Crestview; numerous other family members.

Graveside services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors.

The family will receive friends today from 5-7 p.m. at the Brackney Funeral Home in Crestview.

Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements

.

Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey

Lany Esther, left in the photograph, was the wife of Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey. She was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co., NC.

She and Clayton had eight children:

Bertha May, who married Vencil Aker

Gladys Virginia, born Mar. 31, 1931, married Sherman Eugene Bailey

Nellie Alilene, born May 30, 1932, Caldwell Co., married Floyd Earl Coffey, son of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey

James Edward, born Sep. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., died Jan. 11, 2004 in Crestview, Okaloosa Co., FL.

Margaret Josephine, born Apr. 26, 1936 in Caldwell Co.*

Clayton McDonald, born/died 1938

Lonnie Ray, born 1941, died 1991, married Arlene Dishner

Steven, born 1959

The young woman on the right is Lany's sister-in-law, Pauline Coffey, daughter of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey. She married Otis Bell c1944 and had at least three children: Wayne, Chris and Rhonda.

More information shortly on both families.

Additions and/or corrections appreciated.




*Margaret is my source for the photograph, and a number of others that will soon appear here. She is also my source for much of the Caldwell, Watauga and Avery Co. Coffey information in my files.

Olin James and Estie Coffey Coffey

Revised 12/20/07

Olin Jay Coffey was a son of David Nathaniel and Caroline Lavinia Coffey Coffey. He married his second cousin, Edna Estie Coffey, daughter of Julius Calvin and Clarissa Adams Coffey. I have not found a marriage date for them. However, based on birth date of their first child it appears they were married in late 1920 or early 1921 in Watauga Co., NC

Olin and Estie had two children. One, a son whose first name I have not discovered, was born Jun. 8, 1922 in Watauga Co. The second, a daughter, Norma Pauline was born Jun. 3, 1924.

Shortly after Pauline's birth her mother died, and Olin allowed Pauline to be adopted by William Washington and Lee Ella Coffey Collins. Lee Ella and Olin were first cousins. The child born in 1922 apparently died shortly after birth.

Olin never remarried, and at age 42 on Nov. 18, 1942 at Camp Croft, SC he enlisted in the US Army. He died on May 28, 1986 in Watauga Co.

His obituary:

Mr. Olin Jay Coffey

Retired Farmer

Mr. Olin Jay Coffey, 86, of Blowing Rock, died Wednesday afternoon, May 28, at Blowing Rock Hospital.

He was born in Watauga County, April 5, 1900, a son of the late David and Caroline Coffey. He was an Army veteran of World War I and a member of the American Legion in Blowing Rock. He was a retired farmer.

Mr. Coffey is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Howard (Norma) Hodges of Boone; one niece, Mrs. Gwendolyn Dula of Blowing Rock; two nephews, the Rev. Murray Coffey and Hardin Coffey, both of Blowing Rock. He is also survived by two granddaughters, three great-granddaughters and one great-grandson.

Services were conducted this morning at 10 at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock. Officiating were the Rev. Vaughn Earl Hartsell and the Rev. Howard Hodges. Burial was in the Boone Fork Community Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion in Blowing Rock.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

An article in The Blowing Rocket, a Watauga Co. weekly, dated Oct. 7, 2004, reads:

"This man was one of Blowing Rocks most popular resident and one if its most respected leaders. He was a Postmaster for a few years, sold real estate and served on a number of community and municipal boards. He was the town's authority on elections, serving for years as registrar, judge and other election official duties. In his later years he could always be found playing a game of checkers at the post office."

Norma married Howard Thomas Hodges and had several children before she died on Jun. 3, 1924 in Denton, Davidson Co., NC.

Her obituary:

Norma Coffey Hodges, 79, of Denton, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003, at her home. A memorial service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church in Morganton, where she was a member.

Mrs. Hodges was born June 3, 1924, in Watauga County to Olin J. and Estie Coffey Coffey. She was a homemaker. She was married to the Rev. Howard Thomas Hodges, her husband of 56 years, who died April 20, 2001. She was also preceded in death by her foster family, Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Collins, Sally Collins and Spencer and Staple Collins.

Surviving are two daughters, Rebecca Parsons and her husband, Lloyd, of Denton and Susan Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C., and six grandchildren, Jessica, Caitlin and Rob Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C., Matthew and Jen Parsons of Richlands and Amanda Perez of High Point.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1048, Linwood, N.C. 27299.

Briggs Funeral Home in Denton is assisting the family.

Photographs courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley.

Watauga County, North Carolina Postoffices and Postmasters

According to the website, New River Notes and the sub-page [click on title link to read the entire list], the following Coffeys were postmasters at the location indicated. The dates are no explained, but presumed to be date of appointment.

Blowing Rock:

John S. Coffee [sic] Jul. 26, 1856
Silas C. Coffey Jul. 26, 1856
William C. Coffey Jun. 13, 1873
Thomas H. Coffey Apr. 2, 1914
Mrs. Irene S. Coffey Feb. 2, 1953
Olin Jay Coffey Jun. 5, 1953
Mrs. Irene S. Coffey Jun. 30, 1961

Boone:

William C. Coffey Jun. 13, 1873

Foscoe:

Oscar S. Coffey Jul. 15, 1905

Kelsy:

Comodore J. Coffey Jul. 15, 1891
David N. Coffey Mar. 20, 1905

William Clayton Coffey

William Clayton Coffey was a son of Jesse Coffey and Margaret Edmiston. He was born c1808 in Burke Co., NC and killed in Feb. 1865 in Caldwell Co., NC by a gang of Union renegades led by William McKesson "Keith" Blaylock. William was brother to Austin Coffey who had married Mary Blaylock, Keith's mother. Mary had Keith and one other child named Mary out of wedlock, and Austin had raised them as his own.

A story found in A History of Watauga County, North Carolina by John Preston Arthur reveals that Keith had married Malinda Pritchard, and both had joined the Confederate Army, she as "Sammy Blalock," with hopes of getting close enough to Union lines to defect. But, "Sammy" was wounded and discovered to be a female and sent home. Keith, not to be left alone is said to have rolled in poison ivy and was so affected that he too was discharged. When he returned to Watauga Co., NC he became a recruiting officer for the Union's 10th Michigan Regiment. They also resorted to bushwhacking, thievery and murder.

According to the above source, during the period Aug. 1864 and Feb. 1865 the citizens in the Watauga Co. were hounded and harassed by gangs who stole horses and other livestock; what they did not steal they destroyed. Their victims were mostly women and children whose husbands and fathers were away fighting in the war.

The Coffey families in the area mostly supported the Confederacy, so Keith and his gang must have felt it their duty to seek out the enemy. They first searched for Reuben Coffey, the older brother of William and Austin. Fortunately Reuben was away when the gang came to visit so they rode on to William's home where they found him working in his field. They took him from the field to James Gragg's mill where he was shot by a man named Perkins, one of Keith's henchmen.

William had married his first cousin, Sarah Green, a daughter of John and Elizabeth B. Coffey Green. I have not found a marriage date, nor an accurate birth and death date for Sarah.

Together they had six children:

- Silas Carroll., born c1835 Burke Co., NC, died Jul. 3, 1893. Silas married Eleanor (Nellie) Green - probably some relation to his mother. They had at least seven chidren: Martha J.; William Pinkney; Francis Richmond; Mary E.; David Columbus; Silas W.; and Rebecca S.

[Update Jun. 13, 2007: Silas Carroll and Nellie's child Silas W. was actually Silas Milton, born c1870. His family was subsequently confused with that of Silas Milton Coffey, born Jun. 16, 1886, a son of John Carroll and Nancy Hartley Coffey. John's Silas married Maggie Philyaw on Nov. 5, 1905 in Caldwell Co. This info may still need some "fine tuning", so please contact me at the e-mail address below if you have information on these families.]


- William Clayton, Jr. born c1838 in Ashe Co., NC, married Louisa Adeline Curtis on May 10, 1866 in Wilkes Co. William served in Co. E, 86th NC Infantry, and died in 1919. No other information has been found.

[Update Jun. 13, 2007: William and Louisa had children: George Calbin, born Jan., 1860, died Dec. 21, 1934, married Louisa Elizabeth (Lou) Curtis; Sarah, born c1862; Andrew J., born Jun. 1863, died Jan. 3, 1951, married Matilda Harrison; Nancy Ann, born May, 1868, married Charles Solomon Young; and Mary E., born 1869]


- George Washington (Wash), born Nov. 21, 1842 in Ashe Co., died Nov. 9, 1912 in Caldwell Co. He married Matilda (Tilda) Coffey. (His first cousin, once removed as well as his second cousin, once removed) She was the daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey. Jesse was a son of Reuben, brother to William Clayton, Sr. George and Tilda had 11 children: William Leander; Eliza Jane; Jesse Calton; John A.; Sarah E.; Silas Columbus; Thomas F.; George Washington, Jr.; Roby Monroe; Martha L.; and Mary Etta.

- Jesse Patterson (Pat), born Nov. 1845 in Burke Co., died May 2, 1924 in Watauga Co. he married Phoebe Matilda Curtis, born Feb. 1845 in Caldwell Co., died Oct. 26, 1915 in Watauga Co. Their children were: Laura J.; Eliza Rebecca; Myra Angeline; W. J.; Doctor Peterson; and Thomas Stephen.

- Eliza A. (Louisa), born Jul. 6, 1848 in Burke Co., died May. 24, 1924/25. She married Jesse Hartley, but no additional information has been found.

[Update Jun. 13, 2007: Jesse McAbee Hartley was born Aug. 29, 1846 in Watauga Co., and died Jun. 19, 1905 at Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. They were married in 1868 in Watauga Co. They had at least nine children. Contact me for details]

- John C., born c1851 in North Carolina, married Margaret E., last name unknown. She was born c1852 in North Carolina. Their children were: William Jefferson, born c1876, married Elsie Mae Hodges; Finley Carroll, married Connie Rebecca Tolbert; and Thomas Hall, married Cora Ellen Tolbert. More information is available via e-mail address below.

[Update Jun. 13, 2007: John Carroll married Nancy Evalyn Hartley on Sep. 18, 1873 in Watauga Co. In addition to above three children, they had Joel Partee, born Jul. 1884, died Dec. 21, 1919, married Lillie Mamie Pearl Tolbert; Silas Milton, married Maggie Philyaw; Ilar Jane, born Jun, 1888, died 1981, married Pinkney David Philyaw; and Lilla E., born Jun., 1890.


I have additional information on several of the above families. Please contact me at the below e-mail address if you need more info, or can provide additional data and/or corrections.

Watauga Co., NC

Are you researching in Watauga Co., North Carolina?

The New River Notes website touts itself as a "Historical and Genealogical Resources for the Upper New River Valley of North Carolina and Virginia." Information in the title header says that it has been on-line since 1998. I haven't checked the entire New River site; only the Watauga Co. pages that can be reached by clicking on the title link.

The page is divided into a number of sections: Historical Files, Agriculture, Arts, Biography, Business Links, Cemeteries, Churches and Religions, Education, Environment, Genealogy, Geography and Geology, Government, Historic Places, Medicine, Miscellaneous Links, Museums, Newspapers, Parks, Photographs, and Towns and Communities.

To give an idea of what can be found under Historical Files: The capture and rescue of Benjamin Cleveland; county records inventory, History of Watauga, 1849-1870; NC Civil War Homepage; 27th NC Troops 1861-1865.

Files in the Genealogy section include a link to Watauga County, NC Roots; Coffey Cousins' (nice of them to include us!), Descendants of Samuel McQueen, and several others.

Towns and Communities includes Blowing Rock, Boone, and Cove Creek.

The site promises a lot of information.