Donna Douglas (1933-2015)

Donna Douglas was born Doris Smith in Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA in Sept., 1933, to Emmett Ratcliff and Elma Robinson Smith.  If she ever had a middle name I was unaware of it.

Emmett was the son of Tullie Cornelius Smith and Amelia Etta Walker. Tullie was my great-uncle and brother to my maternal grandmother, Lillian Smith Roe.

The last time I saw her was in Sep., 2009 when we attended the wake of another cousin, Abiah Perkins "A.P." Smith, Jr. in Baton Rouge.

As a kid living in Baton Rouge, we often visited with Emmett and Elma, either at their home or ours near downtown Baton Rouge.  I remember her as a teenager and someone that "babysat" me on one or two occasions while our folks went out for some reason or another.

Source: The Baton Rouge Advocate
Date Unknown

The purpose of this blog is to outline her genealogy as I have researched it and, to publish it for my children and other cousins who have a desire to know about this amazingly talented woman.

Doris' father and my mother were first cousins, descendants of Angus McNeil and Mary Amelia McClendon Smith.  They were also distantly related through their common ancestry with Joseph Pullam and his wife Elizabeth Tickell.

Adeline, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Tickell Pullam married Andrew Jackson Walker and they were parents of Amelia Etta Walker. Another of Joseph and Elizabeth's daughters, Elizabeth Frances Pullam was my maternal great-great grandmother.

Angus was a son of John William Smith and his wife, Lenora E. Lee.

John William Smith was born in St. Helena Parish, LA on Aug. 2, 1832. He lived for a time with the James L. Belue family until his marriage to Lenora in Liberty, Amite Co., MS on Sep. 2, 1853. According to my grandmother, a grand-daughter of John, he was a life long blacksmith who passed on his talents at that trade to her father, Angus.

John and his family appeared in the 1860 census at Greensburg in St. Helena Parish.  There were two children in the household; Marzilla, a female, aged 11 and Angus, age 4.  I do not know who Marzilla was.  Lenora had been briefly married in 1851 to Thomas Morgan and Marzilla may have been their child.

When the Civil War began, John Smith enlisted in Co. H., 27th La. Reg., Captain John T. Spencer, Commanding. He was slightly wounded in a leg during Siege of Vicksburg. Smith, when applying for his CW pension replied that he was at Liberty, Mississippi on detail at the surrender. In response to another pension application question, he reported that he was at the surrender of Vicksburg, was paroled and released to his regiment. He said that he did not take the oath of allegiance to the US Government. When asked how many children, and what sex they were, Smith replied that he and his wife had one boy and four girls.

Though not found by me in the 1870 census, they are found in 1880, East Feliciana Parish.  In addition to John and Lenora, there was William, a son, age 17 and Perkins, another son, age 14.  Next door to them was the Angus Smith family with wife Mary and daughters Adda (Addie) and Mary. Angus and Mary married on Nov. 23, 1876 in East Feliciana Parish.

By 1900 John and Lenora were residents of East Baton Rouge.  In Nov., 1901 he applied for a Confederate pension in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish.  John died on Nov. 5, 1905 in Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish and was buried at the Ponchatoula Cemetery. In Feb., 1906 Lenora applied for his pension and she died in 1908.

By 1900, Angus and Mary Amelia had nine children.  My maternal grandmother was their youngest, born on Aug. 6, 1900 in Baton Rouge.  She once told me that she had siblings born and died before her but did not give names.

Angus was born in Feb., 1857 in East Baton Rouge and died on May 10, 1935 at Pride.  His death certificate reports that he was buried at Bluff Creek Baptist Church cemetery in East Feliciana Parish but, a grave marker is not found.  The church has no records of earlier burials but I know that the cemetery is larger than the current fenced boundaries.  He may be outside in what is now wooded with no visible markers.  Mary died in Aug., 1925 at what was called Stoney Point, LA, near Pride and is said to be buried at a small cemetery at that place.  I have visited the cemetery but have not found a marker for her.

I know from growing up in the household with my maternal grandparents that my grandmother had several siblings that did not die until well after I was grown and married.  Her brother Tullie and his wife lived in Pride and we visited with them quite often.

Uncle Tullie and Aunt Amelia had three children, one of which was Emmett Ratcliff, born Apr. 27, 1907 and died Oct. 7, 1988 when he accidentally drowned while fishing in the Mississippi River near Port Allen in West Baton Rouge Parish.  He and Elma Robinson, a daughter of John R. and Mary A. Manning Robinson, were married c1929 in East Baton Rouge Parish.  Elma was born c1910 at Olive Branch in East Feliciana Parish and died on Dec. 31, 2003 at Zachary in East Baton Rouge.

They were the parents of only two children, Emmett, Jr., born c1930 and Doris.  She died nearly 11 years to the day following her mother's passing.

A brief description of her life in "show business" can be found at The Baton Rouge Advocate On-line.

Mrs. Sophia Porter

"Mrs. Sophia Porter.

"Noted Woman Passed Away At Preston, Texas

"She Entertained Lee, Grant and Jackson at Her Grayson County Home Before the War.

"The Denison Herald

"Died - At Preston, Grayson county, Texas, Friday, August 27, 1897, Mrs. Sophia Porter, aged 81 years, 8 months and 24 days.

"Four score and two years covers many interesting events in American history, and especially that of the great Southwest, and as Mrs. Porter has been so peculiarly identified with the history making events of her own time and environments, some family historian will doubtless seek to preserve the honorable record.

"Sophia Suttonfield was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., September 3, 1815.  Colonel Suttonfield, her father, was a Virginian by birth and served as an officer in the war of 1812.  He erected the first house at Fort Wayne and was there with his family in 1814.  There was neither railroad, telegraph nor steamboat this side of the Atlantic, and Spain owned a vast area of country northwest of New Orleans.  Mexican independence had not yet been secured, although the republican cause seemed in a promising way.  Many chivalrous Spaniards who had fought against the great Napoleon and had been compelled to flee from Spain after the restoration of the Bourbons, were impelled to lend the swords to the patriot cause in Mexico.  Don Jose Manuel Herrera, Don Luis Aury, Colonel Young, Colonel Perry and other Gallant Spanish and American officers had selected Galveston Island as the base of operations and a place of rendezvous for the privateers, and on the 12th of September, 1816, organized a government and unfurled the flag of independence.  Commodore Aury was made civil and military governor of Texas and Galveston Island, and took the oath of fealty to the republic of Mexico.  Five years after this the indomitable Stephen Fuller Austin - a worthy son of immortal Moses Austin - led the first body of immigrants into Texas by way of Natchitoches¹, pitching their camp in what is now Washington county, and thus beginning the permanent settlement of Texas by Anglo-Americans.

"While her future home was thus being established by deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice, such as have never been paralleled, this child of destiny was developing into a beautiful woman.  Her graces and refinement brought her first and greatest sorrow, for her accomplishments attracted the attention of a German officer with whom she was persuaded to elope to the Southwest in 1835.  Their first Texas home was in Waxahachie, but his desertion and subsequent death left this friendless young widow among people who were then in the midst of their supreme struggle for independence, and before the decisive battle of San Jacinto she was with the refugees protected by the army of Sam Houston.

"Colonel Holland Coffee was at this time one of the most prominent men in Texas and in 1838 was elected to the third house of representatives from the new county of Panola.  While upon a visit to Waco Colonel Coffee met the subject of this sketch, and the result was their marriage at the close of that year.  Colonel Coffee had received large grants of land for his gallant military services, and much of it had been located in the rich bottom of Red river.  In 1839 the bride and groom established their home at what is now known as Preston Bend, in this county.  They were indeed pioneers and lived at first in a stockade as a necessary protection against the roving bands of Comanche Indians.  Denison's wooded site was the shelter of thousands of buffalo and other wild game.  Sherman was not yet in existence, and only a very small settlement at Bonham.  Colonel Coffee was killed in 1847.  His wife remained a widow until 1852, when she was married to Major George Butts, a typical Virginian of the bluest blood, who was connected with the Federal army.  Again the home was stricken by a violent death, for Major Butts was killed by bushwhackers during the first year of the war.  This bereavement prompted Mrs. Butts to leave the plantation, and she moved to Waco, taking with her a large number of slaves.  These faithful servants were then hers by the acknowledged right of possession and most of their remained to the end of their days in a service that had brought to them all the benefits of emancipation except actual freedom.

"Mrs. Butts was a remarkably well preserved woman at the age of 50, and her charms compelled the admiration of the grace and chivalric.

"Among those who met this thrice-made widow and who became a successful suitor, was Judge Jonas Porter of Missouri, an officer in the Confederate army, who had stopped at Waco on his way to Mexico.  Judge Porter was a widower whose wife had died while he was in the war.  He was at one time a member of the Missouri legislature and had risen to a high place in Masonry and Odd Fellowship.  A quiet wedding in 1865 and a removal to the bride's home at Preston, brought this remarkable woman back to the community that is now mourning the loss of its best friend.

"Judge and Mrs. Porter are remembered by many who are still living as being ideal entertainers, who had preserved intact the regime of that incomparable Southern hospitality so characteristic of ante-bellum days.  Judge Porter was courteous and scholarly and greatly assisted his wife in retaining at this home the attractions of refinement and education.

"In 1869 they visited Indiana and Mrs. Porter entered the Suttonfield home for the first time since her abrupt departure as a runaway bride many years before.  The aged mother was still living and welcomed the daughter with all the joy that can be expressed by a never-dying mother love.

"The year 1886 brought another sorrow into this history of a life, as Judge Porter was stricken with a fatal disease and passed peacefully away.

"Mrs. Porter was still vigorous, and did not relax her interest in all that concerned the good of those about her.  She had been a consistent member of the Southern Methodist church since 1869, and gave the ground near by upon which was built what is known as "Coffee Chapel."  To this she was also a large contributor and gave it five acres in another place for camp meeting purposes.  A few years ago she presented the Georgetown university three hundred and fifty acres of improved land, valued at ten thousand dollars.

"Thus passed away the sweet spirit of 'Aunt Sophia,' surrounded by relatives and neighbors and by servants who had been born into the household as slaves bu had considered it the highest freedom to remain with their former mistress.

"The old house seems to voice the universal sorrow, for age and decay have touched it in many places; yet the beauty has not all departed.  The broad avenue leading from the entrance to the house is lined with immense catalpa trees, grown from seed planted by Mrs. Porter, the seed having been brought by the father of Governor Throckmorton.  The grounds are full of flowers and palms, rare plants and cacti, and the spacious verandas have afforded a welcome retreat for many distinquished people.  Jefferson Davis, U. S. Grant, Ben Butler, Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan and General Arbuckle were among the famous soldiers who enjoyed its hospitality in the early days.  Many of Quantrell's men were quartered there during their sojourn in this region.

"'Glen Eden' was known and visited by the pleasure seekers of all Northern Texas and the strangers as well as the most intimate friends were made welcome at all times."

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Source:  The Houston daily post. (Houston, Tex.), 30 Aug. 1897. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071197/1897-08-30/ed-1/seq-3/>

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¹Natchitoches is a city in Natchitoches Parish, LA, established in 1714 as part of French Louisiana.  Its sister city is Nacogdoches, TX.

Degraffenreid & Coffey

There are Degraffenreid* families in Lawrence Co., AL and in Polk Co., MO who married Coffey women. I have connected the ladies but, I have not been able to connect their husbands.

In Moulton, Lawrence Co.,AL was the family of Orson Murray Degraffenreid, born Nov. 20, 1882 in Moulton. He married Mattie Edna Coffey, a daughter of Martin Van Buren and Orpha Jane Letson Coffey on Dec. 4, 1901 in Lawrence Co. Orson died Jan. 20, 1968 in Morgan Co., AL. Mattie Edna died on Mar. 27, 1936. Both are buried at Roselawn Gardens of Memory in Decatur, AL.

Together they had at least three children, all born in Lawrence Co.

Regena M., born May 6, 1909, died Mar. 11, 1973 in Morgan Co., AL. She married a Mr. Backus, no further info. Regena is buried at Roselawn Gardens.

Theo's Marriage Record

Murray V., born Jun. 12, 1913, died Oct. 9, 1972 in Decatur. In the 1920 census he was enumerated as Harry V. He married a lady by the name of Katherine W. c1930 in AL. She was born Apr. 30, 1916 in that state and died in Decatur on Apr. 18, 1993. They too are buried at Roselawn. Their children - that I am aware of - were Douglas B., born 1933, died 2008 and R. Aron, born 1940, died 1987.

Theo, born Oct. 2, 1918, died Oct. 21, 1989. He married Lena Belle Lee on May 4, 1940 in Cullman, AL, the daughter of Robert E. Lee and Hattie Farris. Lena was born Sep. 13, 1919 in AL and died in Morgan Co. on Aug. 22, 2004. They too are buried at Roselawn.

Following Mattie's death, Orson married Florence Cartee, date unknown. I know of no children born to this union.

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The Missouri Degraffenreid family that I am interested in was headed by Charles Cebert [sic] and wife Alta E. (Eugenia?, often referred to as Genie or Genia), the daughter of Thomas Cimean and Sarah Alice Combs Coffey.  Orson's wife Mattie Edna and Alta's father were fourth cousins.

Charles was the eldest son of William E. and Julia Ann House Degraffenreid.  Charles was born on Mar. 7, 1880 in Missouri - probably Polk Co. - and died Feb. 16, 1959 in Bolivar, Polk Co.  Alta was born Jan. 1, 1885 in Polk Co., and died Sep. 29, 1978 in MO. Both are buried at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Aldrich.

Alta Coffey Marriage License

He and Alta were married on Nov. 17, 1901 in Aldrich, Polk Co.  For most of their lives they lived in or near Aldrich, Union Township where Alta gave birth to at least 12 children.  In 1940 the family had relocated to Henry Co.

Their children, all born in Polk Co., were:

Fay, born c1903; Doris, born c1905; Nellie Maurine, born Sep. 17, 1905, died Dec. 20, 1921; Alline, born c1907, married a Mr. Stevens c1928 and was a childless widow living with her parents in 1930;  Adrian, born c1909; Paul, born c1912; Lucille, born c1916; Ruth Florence, born c1918, Lee, born c1921; an unnamed male child born prematurely and died on May 29, 1922; Charles Wade, born Jul. 31, 1921, died Oct. 22, 2012 and, Billie Joe, born c1926.

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Please contact me with corrections, additions or, if you can connect the Degraffenreid families.





*Surname also found as Degraffenried & de Graffenreid

Henry and Sarah A. Coffey Steele

Sarah A. Coffey was born to Leland and Myra Coffey.  Myra's maiden name is said to have been Day.  Sarah's exact birth date given in some genealogies as Apr. 27,1834 in Burke Co., NC has not been confirmed by me.  She is known to have married Henry Steele on Dec. 16, 1866 in Caldwell Co., NC.*

The only known child born to Sarah and Henry was John Finley, born May 26, 1867 in Caldwell Co., died Oct. 14, 1958 in Roxboro, Person Co., NC.**

Sarah died c1869 and was buried at the Thompson-Steel Family Cemetery† in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

John Finley married Martha E. Whitener, a daughter of Sidney M. and Eliza Elvira Haas‡ Whitener on Mar. 9,1892 in Lower Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.  Martha died Aug. 20, 1947 in Roxboro.  The only child that I am aware of was Henry W., born in Oct.,1899 at Little River.

Henry remarried sometime after Sarah's death but I have not followed the line.  Henry does appear in the  1900 census at Lower Creek  with his wife Mary, and were the parents of the head of the household, James D. Steele.

Leland Coffey was a son of Smith and Hannah Boone Coffey.  Smith was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey‡

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*North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).

**Death Certificate for John Finley Steele, death certificate No. 28190 (14 October 1958), Bureau of Vital Statistics, North Carolina State Board of Health, Caldwell Co., NC and familysearch.org


†I believe this cemetery is more commonly referred to by locals as the Steel Family Cemetery.  Correction requested.


‡Sidney and Eliza were married 8 Mar. 1860 in Caldwell Co.  However, the bride's maiden name was given as Lee.  Could be a name from a previous marriage or, a mistake/omission by the clerk who issued the license. This family is mentioned in the Laurence H. Coffey compilation of Thomas Coffey and His Descendants (Chattanooga, TN; N. Sanders, pub.)

Clayton Maywood & Ella Virginia Waterman Coffey

Clayton Maywood Coffey was born Feb. 27, 1877 in Nelson Co., VA, the first child of Henry Alexander and Sarah Rebecca Campbell Coffey.  He was married c1908 to Ella Virginia Waterman.

His obituary:

Daily News Leader, Staunton, VA, Jul 1943

Clayton Maywood Coffey

Ella Virginia Waterman

Funeral services for Clayton M. Coffey, who died early Friday at his home on Staunton route five, were conducted from the residence at four o'clock Monday, with his pastor, the Rev. W. J. B. Livingston of Hebron Presbyterian church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. David F. Glovier. Hymns used were "Rock of Ages," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "Abide With Me." Mr. Coffey was born in Nelson county, Feb. 27, 1877, coming to Augusta in early childhood, spending the remainder of his life in and around Staunton. He was a son of the late Henry A. Coffey and Sarah Campbell Coffey. Those surviving are his widow, Mrs. Ella Waterman Coffey; three daughters and two sons, Mrs. Albert Dull, Mrs. Harty Burford, Mrs. David Hoover, Charles M. Coffey, all of Staunton; Elwood Coffey,. U. S. Army, Nashville, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; six sisters and one brother, Mrs. Walter Keefauver, Roanoke; Mrs. Gilbert Craig, Lynchburg; Mrs. Vinton Cook and Mrs. O. H. Lee, Richmond; Mrs. Howard Plumb, Waynesboro; Miss Lottie Coffey, Winchester and J. H. Coffey, Landover, Md. Active pallbearers were H. F. Talhaferro, W. C. Shiflett, R. T. Mosley, J. D. Hoover, John Dull, and M. E. Elliott; honorary, Frank Leitch, A. R. Moore, Dr. Glenn C. Campbell, Sam Cook, W. A. Crawford, F. M. Tutwider, J. L. Jamison, L. M. Drake. Burial was in Thornrose cemetery.

[I wonder about the spelling of some of the surnames in the obituary.  Is Talhaferro really supposed to be Taliaferro and Tutwider supposed to be Tutwiler?]

Ella was the daughter of Harry B. and Emma Jane Harris, born Jan. 31, 1883 in Staunton, Augusta Co., VA and died there on Dec. 23, 1955.  Both are buried at the Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton.

 - Clayton and Ella were the parents of at least five children; three daughters and two sons:

Emma Jane Harris Waterman

Janet Lucille Coffey Dull

 - Janet Lucille, born May 24, 1911, died Jun. 20, 1984.  Janet married Albert Alexander Dull, born Oct. 3, 1908, died Jan. 4, 1965.  They are also buried at Thornrose.

 - Henry Elwood, born July 18, 1912 and died May 11, 1955.  He married Ferbie Virginia Smith on Sep. 29, 1943 in Augusta Co.  A few years after Henry died, his widow married Charles Maywood, Henry's brother.  All are buried at Thornrose.

Henry Elwood Coffey

Charles Maywood Coffey

 - Helen Joyce, born Dec. 1, 1913, died Feb. 23, 1998, married Joseph Hardy "Pete" Burford on Jun. 14, 1929 in Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD.  Pete was born Jan. 3, 1909 and died Jun. 13, 1998.  They are also buried at Thornrose. No photo available for Helen.












- Catherine, born ca Dec., 1916. Nothing else known; may have died young. [After re-reading Clayton's obit, I realized that Catherine is Mrs. (John) David Hoover.]

 - Charles Maywood, born Aug. 29, 1920, died Jun. 19, 1989.  Neither Charles nor his brother Henry are known to have fathered any children with Ferbie.

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Update Oct 25, 2011:

Charles Maywood Coffey was first married to Nellie Elaine Woodzell in 1941.  They divorced c1947 and Nellie later married Joseph Gatlin Gray in 1957, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY.  Charles then married Ferbie c1958.  Joseph was born Apr. 7, 1918 in Laurel, Jones Co., MS and died in Tell City, Perry Co., IN on Dec. 29, 2001.  Nellie was born Dec. 12, 1919 in Millboro, Bath Co., VA to Charley B. and Sarah E. Woodzell.  She died Apr. 20, 1984 in Tell City.  She and Joseph are buried there in Greenwood Cemetery.

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All photos are courtesy of Wayne Coffey.

Children of William Brownloe and Mary Young Coffey

A couple of days ago I wrote about this family. William was a son of John C. & Martha White Coffey of which I wrote about earlier today. Mary "Mollie" was the daughter of George and Sarah "Sallie" Lee Young.

Today I decided to add a little more info about the children:

Walter Chandler, born c1920 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., died Aug., 28, 2001 in Johnson City, Washington Co., TN.

His obituary:

Chandler Coffey, 82, 700 Milligan Highway, Johnson City, died unexpectedly Tuesday, August 28, 2001, at Johnson City Medical Center.

Mr. Coffey was a native of Grainger County, Tenn. He was of the Protestant faith and was a retired worker from the Dawn of Hope Workshop.

Survivors include a sister, Bonnie Coffey, Greeneville, and a niece, Vickie Smith, Greeneville.

Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, (423) 543-4917, is in charge of arrangements. Visit our Web site at www.Funeral-Plans.com/Tetrick

COFFEY -- Graveside services for Chandler Coffey, 82, 700 Milligan Highway, Johnson City, who died Tuesday, August 28, 2001, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, August 31, at Coffey Ridge Cemetery, Unicoi, with the Rev. Ross Lindley officiating. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Correll and David Morrison. Everyone will meet at the cemetery at 10:55 a.m. Friday for the graveside service. Friends may call from noon until 8 p.m. Thursday, August 30, at Tetrick Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to ARC of Washington County, 2700 S. Roan Street, Suite 300 B, Johnson City, Tenn. 37601, Attn: Lorie Copas. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is in charge of arrangements.

Cecil G., born c1922, died young.  No other information.

John Henry, born c1924 in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN, died Mar.  1, 2008 in Grainger Co.

His obituary:

John H. Coffey, age 84, of Bean Station,Tennessee went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 1, 2008. He was a member of Yellow Springs Baptist Church. He was a good husband and father and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mollie Coffey; brothers, Kyle and Chandler; and sisters, Viola (Rick) (Ralph) Hatfield and Martha Sloan.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Susie Howerton Coffey; sons, Danny Coffey and Earl (Charlotte) Coffey; brother, Rhisteen of Morristown; sisters, Vioma McKinney of Indiana, and Fern Manning of Ohio; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at Westside Chapel Funeral Home, Morristown,Tennessee with the Rev. Vance Dennis Johnson, the Rev. Bill Johnson, and the Rev. Ray Seal officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at First Independent Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the services at the funeral home. Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown, Tennessee.

Addie Viola "Rick" Coffey Hatfield, born Mar 25, 1925, died Jun. 2, 1989.

Her obituary:

Addie Viola (Coffey) Hatfield, 64 of 7923 Shartz Road, Franklin, died June 2 at her home. She was a native of Thornhill, Tennessee. Born in 1925 to William and Molly (Young) Coffey. Survivors include two daughters, Lisa Hatfield, Springboro, and Sharon Seabald, Dayton; two brothers, Chandler, Knoxville, TN; John, Bean Station, TN; three sisters: Cecil, Knoxville, TN; Vioma (Oma) (Floyd) Mckinney, Marion,Indiana and Martha Sloan, Bellefontaine, Ohio; one half-sister, Fern McQueary, Franklin; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her son Dale Hatfield in 1970 and her husband, Ralph in April 1988.

Services were June 5 at the Eaton-Anderson Funeral Home, Franklin with the Rev. Delbert Dawes officiating. Burial was in Woodhill Cemetery, Franklin, Warren County, Ohio.

 Martha Vioma "Oma" Coffey, born c1927.  No other info.

Martha Jean "Marty" Coffey Sloan, Jul. 27, 1929, Harlan Co., KY, died Dec. 5, 1989 in Bellfonatine, Logan Co., OH.

Her obituary:

Martha J. Sloan,1177 Erie St.was born on July 27th,1929 to Bill Coffey and Mollie Young Coffey in Harlan County, Kentucky.

Mrs.Sloan died Tuesday, Dec. 5th,1989 in Bellefontaine,Ohio,at age 60.

She married John M. "Hank" Sloan on June 11, 1966 in Bellefontaine,Ohio.

Funeral services will be conducted at Eichholtz Funeral Home Friday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Keith McNeill will officiate and burial will be at the Rushsylvania Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Mrs. Sloan was a former employee of Westinghouse Corporation in Bellefontaine. She was a member of the BPOElks 132 and the auxiliaries of F.O.E. 2166 and Frank Castle Post 1066, VFW.

She was the sister of Walter Chandler Coffey, Cecil G.Coffey, John Henry (Susie) Coffey, Viola (Rick) (Ralph) Hatfield ,Vioma (Oma) Coffey (Floyd) McKinney, Fern Young (Bill) McCeary (George) Manning, Mary Francis Young (Ben) Scearce, Paul Bunch and Ruth Bunch.

Survivors include two sons, Richard Dearwester of DeGraff and Craig Dearwester of Bellefontaine; two daughters, Mrs. Donald (Connie) Cardwell of Marysville and Mrs. Joseph (Valerie) Wise of Bellefontaine; and eight grandchildren.

Thanks to Barbara Rushing of Bradenton, FL for permission to use these.

William Brownloe Coffey

The following family information and photographs are courtesy of Barbara Hutchinson, Bradenton, FL

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William Brownloe Coffey was a son of John C. & Martha Wyatt Coffey.  John was a son of Richardson, and he a son of Benjamin and Nancy Hayes Coffey.  William was born on March 7, 1900 at Bean Station in Grainger Co., TN and died in Mooresburg, Hawkins Co., TN on Mar. 31, 1977.  He is buried at Meadow Branch Cemetery in Bean Station.

His wife, Mary "Mollie" Young, a daughter of George and Sarah "Sallie" Lee Young, was born March 14, 1905 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN and died in Middletown, Butler Co., OH on Feb. 19, 1944.  She is buried at Woodhill Cemetery in Franklin, Warren Co., OH.

I do not have a marriage date for William and Mollie, but probably around 1918 to 1919.

Together they had six children:

Walter Chandler, born 1920 in Thorn Hill, died Sep. 28, 2001 at Johnson City in Washington Co., TN.  He is buried at Coffey Ridge Cemetery in Unicoi, Unicoi Co., TN.

Cecil G. - no information

John Henry, born 1924 in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN, died Mar. 1, 2008 in Grainger Co.  He is buried at the First Independent Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Bean Station.  His wife was Susie Howerton.

Martha Vioma "Oma" - no information.

Addie Viola "Rick", born May 25, 1925 in Thorn Hill, died Jun. 2, 1989 in Franklin, Warren Co., OH.  She married Ralph Hatfield and had two children, Paul and Ruth.  "Rick" is buried at Franklin, Warren Co., OH in the Woodhill Cemetery.

Martha Jean "Marty", born Jul. 27, 1929 in Harlan Co., KY, died Dec. 5, 1989 at Bellefontaine, Logan Co., OH.  She is buried in the Rushsylvania cemetery in Logan Co.  "Marty" married John M. "Hank" Sloan.

More on this family in a later blog.

Rice Abner Coffey

Rice was a son of Alexander Hamilton and Nancy E. Weatherly Coffey. He was born in Bedford Co., VA on Dec. 24, 1833, and died Apr. 9, 1896 in Scottsboro, Jackson Co., AL. He was married to his first cousin Mary Ann Coffey, a daughter of Benjamin B. and Mary E. Roach Coffey on Oct. 29, 1857. Rice was buried in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro. Alexander Coffey was a son of Rice and Sarah (Sally) Bradford Coffey.

Rice and Mary Ann had three children: Theodosia, born Aug. 1, 1858; Nancy Elizabeth, born May 23, 1861, died May 16, 1918; and Mary Ann, born Dec. 31, 1863, died Dec. 21, 1921. Spouse Mary Ann died Mar. 28, 1864 in Roaches Cove, AL at age 21 years.

Rice married a second time to Sarah Jane (Sally) Helton on Sep. 11, 1870. She waas born Jul. 5, 1851 in Stevenson, Jackson Co., AL,, and died Apr. 22, 1930 in the same place. Sarah Jane was buried in the Helton Cemetery in Jackson Co. She and Rice were the parents of nine children:

- Pleasant Hamilton, born Mar. 9, 1873, died Oct. 27, 1927; married Mary Ann Wynn, born Sep, 6, 1884, died May 2, 1935 on Oct. 21, 1903. Children: Pleasant Lee, born May 30, 1905; Alva Avery, born c1908; Truett, born c1914, and Mark Raymond, born c1916.

- Angelina (Lina), born Sep. 30, 1875, died 1953; married Rev. Willis Walter Lee, born Jul. 11, 1869 in Rome, Floyd Co., GA, died Dec. 13, 1935 in Harlingen, Cameron Co., TX. Children: William Rice, born Jan. 12, 1903, died Jun. 1, 1931; John Samuel, born May 16, 1904, died Jul. 12, 1919; Willis Walter, Jr., born Sep. 7, 1905, died Aug. 17, 1982; Dallas Powell, Sep. 29, 1907, died Mar. 29, 1999; Ruth, born Jan. 14, 1909, died May 3, 1911; Ralph Barrett, born Aug. 18, 1912, died Jan. 1997; Frank Coffey, born Apr. 23, 1914, died Feb. 28, 1917; and Howard Cecil, born Dec. 28, 1916, died Oct. 16, 1997.

- Rice A., born Aug. 13, 1877, died Oct. 23, 1878

- Weightstill Avery, born Dec. 7, 1878, died Mar. 27, 1950; married Venue Lava Meeker on Jun. 8, 1904. She was born Jul. 29, 1881, died Sep. 9, 1905. They had one child, born Aug. 5, 1905, died Nov. 29, 1905. Weightstill remained a widower for many years before remarrying c1925 to Mary V., LNU. There were no known children from this marriage, and no known descendants from either marriage.

- Sarah Belle (Sallie), born May 9, 1881
- Arcina Elvira, born Sep. 20, 1882
- John Napoleon, born Oct. 7, 1885
- Emma Veral, born Oct. 31, 1886, died Jul. 12, 1887

- Charles Helton, born Feb. 11, 1889, died 1946; married Nannie Ellison, born c1889, died Dec., 1937 in Jackson Co. Children: Rice, born c1914, and Evelyn Louise, born about Dec., 1915.

Sources: Descendants of Rice Abner Coffey, Al Carhart who cited "Diary of the Home and Doings of the Family of Willis Walter & Angelina Coffey Lee; Sarah Frances Johnson of Houston, TX; family papers provided by Sandra (Lee) Durrett; Howard and Milly Stokes of Sugarland, TX. Other sources include the United States Federal Census for various years through 1930.

Cemetery Photos can be seen here.