John Henry and Josie Ella Nora Coffey Sherfey

John Henry Sherfey was born Jan. 30, 1890 in Hawkins Co., TN, a son of James David and Maria Elizabeth Weaver Sherfey. He married Josie Ella Nora Coffey on Jul. 6, 1916 in Three Springs, Washington Co., VA. Josie was born Mar. 11, 1900 in the Globe community of Caldwell Co., NC and died Apr. 24, 1983 in Bristol, Sullivan Co., TN. John died Jul. 10, 1971, also in Bristol.


Josie was the next to youngest child born to Henry Kelly and Sarah Jane Gragg Coffey.

John first married Mary Beechbord [sic] c1909 in Virginia. I'm not certain what ultimately became of Mary, but suspect that she died shortly after the birth of her second child, Stella, born c1911. Her first child was Carson C. Sherfey, born cFeb. 1910. These two children were in the household with John and Josie in the Washington Co., VA census of 1920.

Josie gave birth to at least 16 children between the years 1917 and 1941!

They were:

John Clifton, born Jan. 8, 1917, died Jan. 14, 1917
Earl Bascum (Hammer), born Mar. 11, 1918, died Sep. 13, 1987
Charles Ester (Possum), born c1920
Bertie Estelle, born May 28, 1921
(Rev.) John Claymon (Pinkey), born Apr. 6, 1923
Ella Loraine, born May 20, 1925, died Apr. 17, 1926
James Ellis (Beck), born Jan. 20, 1927
Henry Arthur (Hen), born May 24, 1928, died Nov. 9, 2003
Howard Dwight, borm Mar. 11, 1930
(Rev.) Charles Junion (Pretty Boy), born Jul. 26, 1931
Elsie Margarette (Slim), born Mar. 20, 1933
Ray Richard (Buckles), born Apr. 17, 1935
Rena Sue, born Aug. 24, 1936
Vernon Louis, born Oct. 23, 1938, died Nov. 2, 1938
Verna Louise, born Oct. 23, 1938, died Nov. 3, 1938
Willie Jo (Tootsie), born May 6, 1941

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1910 Washington Co., Goodson Dist.ED127, Sheet 8A, dwelling 111, family 115, Sherfey, Henry, head, male, white, age 20, married once for one year, born VA, parents born US, farmer; Mary, wife, female, white, age 24, married once for one year, mother of 1, 1 living, born VA, parents born VA; Carson C., son, male, white, age 2 mos., born VA, parents born VA

1920 Washington Co., Goodson Dist., ED150, Sheet 4A, Rudy Creek Road, farm 68, family 70, Sherfey, Henry, head, rents, male, white, age 30, married, born TN, father born TN, mother born VA; Josie, wife, female, white, age 30, married, born NC, parents born NC; Carcon C., son, male, white, age 10, single, born VA, father born TN, mother born NC; Stella J., dau., female, white, age 9, single, born VA, father born TN, mother born NC; Earl B., son, male, white, age 2 yrs, 2 mos., born VA, father born TN, mother born NC; Charles E., son, male, white, age 1/24 [sic]

Photos courtesy of Mary Ann Sherfey Westerman