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.

Albert Wallace Carhart (1928-2005)

Al Carhart was a good friend, and a member of Coffey Cousins'. I was personally saddened to hear of his passing, but cherish the times that we were able to visit and get to know each other!

Al descended from Weightstill Avery Coffey, born Aug. 28, 1837, died Jul. 20, 1898. W. A. Coffey was married to Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Harris. W. A. descended from Alexander Hamilton Coffey (Jan 29, 1803-Apr. 5, 1864) and Nancy E. Weatherly (Aug. 24, 1810-Oct. 29, 1841).

Alexander Hamilton was a son of Rice Coffey and Sarah "Sally" Bradford. Rice was a son of James Coffey and Elizabeth Cleveland. James was a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves. John was a son of Edward Coffey and Ann Powell.

Most of these lines have been well researched, but please contact me if anyone needs additional information on them.

Al's obituary follows:


Obituary Published January 14, 2005

KERRVILLE ­ Albert Wallace Carhart, born May 29, 1928, passed away Jan. 12, 2005.

Al was preceded in death by his father Archie M. Carhart; mother Irene Howard Carhart; and sister Mary Helen Carhart Hans of San Antonio.

He is survived by his beloved wife Lennie Sue Boyd Carhart; son Michael W. Carhart and wife Eva; daughters Kathleen Carhart Edmonston and husband Douglas; Molly Carhart Broyal and husband Nelson; grandsons Johnny Griffin, Jesse Griffin, Benjamin Pigott and Micha Kibler; and step-grandson Alex Edmonston. He also is survived by granddaughters, Tracy Heckathorn Williams, Heather Pigott Johnson, Velvet Kibler Anderson, Amaris Griffin Pereira, Leah Griffin, Elissa Griffin Davis, Christina Carhart and Cayla Carhart; step-granddaughter Danielle Edmonton; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.

A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 909 Main St., Kerrville, Texas, with a reception following at the Church Social Center from 3:15 to 3:30 p.m.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ebensberger Funeral Home, 111 Rosewood, Boerne, Texas 78006, (830) 249-2321.


See the following link for information about Weightstill Avery Coffey:

Weightstill Avery Coffey