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