Eliza J. Kirby Coffey

"In Memoriam.

"The subject of this sketch, wife of our esteemed townsman, Mr. Geo. E. Coffey was born in Caldwell on the 9th day of July, 1882 and died at her home in Blowing Rock on the morning of Sunday the 30th day of January, 1916, leaving, beside her mother, Mrs. Kirby, and her husband, four children as follows:  Ollie May 12 years, Ralph Sylvester 9, James Luther 7, and Eula Deal 4.  Mrs. Coffey, up to the 25th of October 1914, enjoyed perfect health, but, suffering from a stroke of paralysis at that time and from several subsequent strokes, her strength gave way and though all that medical skill could do was done for the good woman, she succumbed at last to the inevitable and, though she seemed better on Saturday, cheerful and even attempted to walk, something she had no done for over a year, the final, fatal stroke came that night and before the dawning of another Sabbath Day the soul had taken its flight.

"Mrs. Coffey joined the Second Adventist Denomination at Patterson in 1899, married George E. Coffey on the 22nd day of September, 1901 at Grove, Caldwell county and moved to Blowing Rock soon afterward.  She always looked on the bright side, even in her moments of suffering saying 'it was all for the best,' was a devoted wife and affectionate mother and dutiful daughter, had strong faith in Christ, her Saviour, and 'believed firmly in the Resurrection of the Dead and hoped to meet her dear ones in Paradise.'

"The funeral, as noted last week, was held by her pastor, Rev. Eber Gragg of Foscoe, the Reformed church not able to hold the people who came to pay the last sad tribute to her memory, though the day was most inclement, Mr. Gragg most impressively pointing to the 1st and 2d Resurrections and bidding his hearers prepare for it by rising from their sins hero and watching for the Eternal Dawn."

"The three doctors who attended Mrs. Coffey during her long illness, Doctors Brooks of Blowing Rock, Perry of Valle Cruces and Mordecai of Blowing Rock have the deep gratitude of the family and so have all the kind friends and neighbors who were most kind and considerate during it all.  God bless them!

"Mrs. Coffey's favorite text will close this sketch which is written by a friend of the family but which he feels is but feeble tribute.

""Instead of the throne shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not cut off.  Isaiah 55:13.  W. R. Savage Blowing Rock, N. C.""

Source: W. R. Savage, "In Memoriam," Obituary, Watauga Democrat, Boone, Watauga Co., NC, 10 February 1916, Death of Mrs. George E. Coffey; On-line Archive (http://tinyurl.com/kq4nj3b : viewed 28 September 2014); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC. Watauga Democrat. (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.), 10 Feb. 1916. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82007642/1916-02-10/ed-1/seq-2/>.

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Geo. E. Coffey was George Edgar whose father is not known.  His mother was Margaret Anne Kincaid who was a daughter of Milton and Abigail Bristol Kincaid of Burke Co., NC.

In addition to the four children listed above, there was another child, a son, born Nov. 2, 1914 and believed to have died at birth or shortly thereafter.

The other children: Ollie Mae, born Mar. 15, 1903, died Oct. 10, 1962 at Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC, married Fred A. Boger.

Ralph Sylvester, born Aug. 13, 1905, died Nov. 19, 1989, buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock, NC.

James M., born Jul. 27, 1908, died in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. on Feb. 4, 1933, married a lady named Ethel.

Ola Deal, born Feb. 7, 1912, died Jul. 7, 1999 in Blowing Rock; married Charles William Craig, born Mar. 28,1910 in Watauga Co.

Margaret Anne "Maggie" Kincaid had been married on Feb. 6, 1860 to William Elbert Coffey in Burke Co. and appeared there with him through the 1900 census.  William died in Morganton, Burke Co., in 1912.  Their last child was a daughter also named Margaret, born on Jan. 20, 1880.  George was born in 1883, well before William Elbert Coffey died.  However, George's death certificate does not name a father and instead wrote "illegitimate" in that place.

After Eliza died in 1916, George married Pearl White in 1918, Catawba Co., NC.  That was also Pearl's second marriage.  Her first husband was John L. Kirby who died in Mecklenburg Co., NC of Paresis on July 31, 1917, a month and a few days after their marriage on Jun. 3, 1917.

George died on Apr. 15, 1931 in Blowing Rock and was buried there at Mount Bethel.  I have not yet found Pearl's death date or burial site.  She and George had at least two sons, Edgar B. and Roy Edward "Pete" Coffey.

Robert Lawrence "Bob" Coffey

Relatively speaking, this is a "modern" family.  However, it did take a bit of concentration on my part to finally figure out that he had two wives, each named Lula!

Robert was born in Caldwell Co., NC in 1897 to Jesse Finley and Mary Elizabeth Craig Coffey.  He married Lula Shell on Aug. 30, 1913 in Lenoir, the daughter of Robert and Laura Sigmon Shell. 

Lula Shell Coffey gave birth to three children: 

Laura Mozelle, born Jun. 8, 1914, died of tuberculosis and unmarried on Jul. 22, 1938.  Laura is buried at the Union Church Cemetery in Lenoir.

Second child was Finley Tuttle, born in 1915 and died Dec. 23, 1979 in Lenoir.  He married Jewel Genett Andrews, a daughter of John Finley and Lucy Bean Andrews in Caldwell Co. in 1953.  Jewel was born in 1923 and died Jan. 1, 2006 in Caldwell Co.  She is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir and, I suspect Finley is also buried there.

The last child born to Lula Shell Coffey was Charles Woodrow, born Oct. 26, 1917 and died of tuberculosis on Mar. 10, 1919 in Lenoir.  He and his mother died very close together, perhaps on the same day but, although a death certificate for Charles has been found, none has been found for Lula.

Three years after the death of Lula Shell Coffey, "Bob" Coffey married Lula Lovina Hart, a daughter of Calvin Jones and Amanda Emmaline Wise Hart.  The wedding took place on Mar. 11, 1922 in Caldwell Co.  Lula Lovina Hart was born c1905 and died Apr. 5, 1978 in Caldwell Co.  I do not know where either of them are buried.

Bob and Lula Hart Coffey had at least 10 children, all born in Caldwell Co.:

Frances, born Mar. 3, 1923, died Jun. 21, 2010 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  She married  Foke Lenoir Hartley, born Apr. 2, 1922 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., a son of George Sidney Hartley and Callie Bentley.  Foke died Oct. 19, 1988 in Valdese, Burke Co., NC.  Their children were Doyle Sidney; Mavis Ann; and Thelma Susan, all of which are now deceased.

Mable Ruth, born Jun. 6, 1924, died Oct. 26, 1989 in Lenoir.  She married George James Prestwood, born c1918 in Caldwell Co.  Her obituary reads:

Mabel Ruth Coffey Prestwood, 65, of 310 Reform St. SW, Lenoir, died Thursday, Oct. 26, 1989, at Caldwell County Hospice.

She was born June 6, 1924, in Caldwell County, a daughter of Robert Lee Coffey of Lenoir and the late Lula Hart Coffey.

She was a homemaker.

In addition to her father, Mrs. Prestwood is survived by her husband, George James Prestwood of Charlotte; three sons, Gordon James Prestwood and Ralph Edward Prestwood, both of Lenoir, and David Lee Prestwood of San Diego, Calif.; three daughters, Georgia Ann Harris of Aiken, S.C., Shirley Jean Hitt of Statesville and Mary Jane Lebuff of Homa [sic], La.; two brothers, Lawrence Coffey of Waynesville, Mo., and Daniel Coffey of Wilmington; five sisters, Frances Hartley, Sarah Stone and Florence Prestwood, all of Lenoir, Mrs. Clyde (Alice) Smith of Morganton, and Mrs. Paul (Grace) Spears of Phoenix, Ariz.; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The service and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

James O., born 1926, died 1926

Lemuel Hart, born Jun. 13, 1927, died Jun. 26, 1976.  Lem married Dorthy Mae McMillan on Jun. 30, 1949 in Caldwell Co.  She was born May 16, 1931 in Caldwell Co. to John Franklin and Amelia Ann Bishop McMillan.  Dorothy died Sep. 17, 2001 in Lenoir.  His obituary reads:

Obituary, Lenoir News-Topic, Monday, June 28, 1976

Lemuel Hart Coffey, 49, 210 Clearfield Drive, died Saturday evening in a Veteran's Administration hospital after an extended illness.

He was born June 13, 1927 in Caldwell County, son of Robert Lawrence and Lula Hart Coffey of Lenoir.

Coffey was employed at Kincaid Furniture Co.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his widow, Mrs. Dorthy Mae McMillian Coffey of the home; four sons, Terry Robert Coffey, Paul Gregory Coffey, Scott Bradley Coffey, all of Lenoir, and Jerry Franklin Coffey of El Paso, Tex.; three brothers, Finley Coffey of Collettsville, Larance Coffey of Missouri, and Dan Coffey of Wilmington; six sisters, Mrs. Alan (Sarah) Stone of North Wilkesboro, Mrs. Forke (Frances) Hartley of Baton, Mrs. Clyde (Alice) Smith of Morganton, Mrs. Paul (Grace) Spears of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. George (Ruth) Prestwood and Mrs. Richard (Florence) Prestwood born of Lenoir.

The funeral was to be conducted at 2 p.m. today at Lakeview Baptist Church by Rev. Michael Barlowe and Rev. Dean Harold.

Burial was to follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home was in charge of Arrangements.

After Lem's death, Dorothy married Reynold Lee "Sarge" Setzer in 1976.  Sarge was born Jun. 29, 1930 in Caldwell Co. to Walter C. and Amanda Walsh Setzer.  He died Feb. 6, 2007 in Caldwell.  His obituary reads:

Obituary, News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Feb. 8, 2007

Reynold Setzer

Reynold Lee "Sarge" Setzer died Feb. 6, 2007, at Lenoir Health Care after a lengthy period of declining health.

Sarge was born June 29, 1930, in Caldwell County to W.C. and Amanda Walsh Setzer. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy McMillan Setzer; and a brother, Forest A. Setzer; and three infant brothers.

Survivors include his step-sons, Terry Coffey and wife Vicki of Lenoir, Jerry Coffey and wife Donna of Gray, Tenn., Scott Coffey and wife Linda of Asheville and Paul Coffey of Concord. He also is survived by five grandchildren, Suzanne Moore, Michael Coffey, Autumn Coffey, Nick Coffey and Yvonne Coffey, and two great grandchildren, Mason and Jessie Moore; a brother, Cecil B. Setzer and wife Mae; a sister-in-law, Bea Setzer; and a niece and nephew.

Sarge was assigned to the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry and completed 25 years of distinguished service, including the Korean Conflict and two tours in the Vietnam Conflict. He was later transferred to the First Armored Division and retired with honors in 1975. Master Sergeant Setzer received several commendations including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, The Army Commendation, The United Nations Medal and The Occupational Medal in Japan.

Sarge was a long-time member of First Advent Christian Church in Lenoir where he was a member of the senior men's Sunday school class. He was a collector of military books and extensive in his knowledge of military history. He attended Lenoir High School.

At his request, there will be no public funeral services. Memorials may be made to the First Advent Christian Church Music Program, P.O. Box 1714, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Dorothy's obituary:

Dorothy Mae McMillan Setzer, 70, of Camelot Court, Lenoir, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2001, at Caldwell County Hospice.

She was born May 16, 1931 in Caldwell County to the late John Franklin McMillan and Amelia Ann Bishop McMillan.  She was also preceded in death by her fi[r]st husband, Lemuel H. Coffey; and three brothers, Bill, Clifton and Paul McMillan.

She was a homemaker and a member of the First Advent Christian Church.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Setzer of Lenoir, four sons, Terry R. Coffey of Lenoir, Jerry F. Coffey of Kannapolis, Paul G. Coffey of Hudson and Scott B. Coffey of Fletcher; one brother, the Rev. Eugene McMillan of Stuart, Va.; and five grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645

Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bob and Lula's next child was Lawrence Craig Coffey, born Feb. 18, 1929, died May. 25, 2005 in Crocker, Pulaski Co., MO.  His wife was Maggie Lee "Peggy" Benefield.  No other information.

Following Lawrence was Florence Elizabeth, born 1932.  No further information.

Alice Hart, born 1935, married Clyde William Smith.  No further information.

Their last three children were:  Daniel Luke, born 1937; Grace Levina, born 1940 and Sarah Nell, born 1945.  No further information on them.

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.

Leland L. "Lee" and Elizabeth Jane Manis Coffey

"Lee" was a son of John Morgan and Elizabeth Day Coffey, and was born in Cherokee Co., NC on Jul. 28, 1851. He was married to Elizabeth Jane Manis but I have not found the marriage date. Elizabeth was born Feb. 28, 1856 in NC and died on Dec. 22, 1943 in Marble, Cherokee Co. Lee died there on Nov. 11, 1907. Both are buried in the Moss Cemetery at Marble.

He and Elizabeth were parents of at least seven children, all boys except for one daughter.

Barney Luther, born Aug. 1, 1876 in Union Co., GA and died Oct. 21, 1957 in Enka, Hominy Twp., Buncombe Co., NC. He married Melissa Wilson on Aug. 15, 1903 in Cherokee Co. Melissa was born c1884 in NC. Their children were Lois Alma; Barney, Jr.; Jack Edgar; and Paul Lee. Barney registered for the WW1 draft in Marble, Cherokee Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being short with blue eyes and black hair. Build was not provided. He was 42 yrs old, born Aug. 1, 1876. He was a farmer who resided at Marble. He named Mrs. Jessie Coffee [sic] as his nearest relative. Both are buried at Moss.

Virgil Lee, born Dec. 29, 1877 in Cherokee Co., and was married there on Jul. 2, 1903 to Nora Texie Bryson. Nora was born Jun. 28, 1885 in Cherokee Co. and died there on Feb. 13, 1971. Virgil died Oct. 10, 1964. Both are buried at Moss. Their children were Cornelia, Roscoe and Hattie. Perhaps they had more. Virgil registered for the WW1 draft in Marble, Cherokee Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 39 yrs., born Dec. 29, 1877. He was a farmer at Marble and named Mrs. Nora Coffee [sic] of Marble as his nearest relative.

Emma was born Mar. 19, 1879, probably in Cherokee Co., and died there on Sep. 27, 1964. She married William Jackson Barton, born May 24, 1872 in Georgia, on Oct. 17, 1894. William died in Marble on Dec. 18, 1960. Both are buried at Moss. They likely had children but I have not yet searched for them. William also probably registered for the WW1 draft but I have not yet found his registration card.

Squire Morgan was the fourth child, born Jan. 2, 1882 in Cherokee Co., and died of cardiac arrest in Marble on Dec. 17, 1971. He is also buried at Moss. Morgan Squire Coffee [sic] registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Cherokee Co., NC. He was of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair. He was 36 years old, born Jan. 2, 1882. He was a farmer at Marble, Cherokee Co. He named Elizabeth Coffee of Marble as his nearest relative. I have not determined if Elizabeth was his mother or his wife. I have not yet found any other information about him.

William Edgar, born Jun. 20, 1886 in Cherokee, died of a coronary occlusion on Sep. 25, 1959 at Marble. He married c1910 to Lucy Ashe, born c1886 in NC. Together they had at least nine children: Gene, Harold T., Carl Lee, William Wade, Ora Bell, James Woodrow, Lenora, Marvin and Dorothy May. William registered for the draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Marble, Cherokee Co., NC. He was 30 yrs. old, born Jun. 25, 1882 in Cherokee Co. He was a farmer at Marble and was described as being of medium height with slender build, blue eyes and light colored hair.

Stedman M. Smith Coffey, born Sep. 14, 1889 in Macon Co., NC, died Jul 16, 1987 in Marble. He married on Jan. 10, 1909 to Ethel M. Adams. Ethel was born Mar. 23, 1891 in Cherokee Co., and died Jan. 29, 1971 in Marble. Both she and Stedman are buried at Moss. Their children were Stella, Blanche, John Lee, Rev. Clyde, Vance, Vesta and Mildred. Smith S. Coffee [sic] registered for the draft in Marble, Cherokee Co., NC on Jun 5, 1917. He was described as being of medium height and slender build with brown eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 27 yrs., born Sep. 14, 1889 in Macon Co., NC. He was a farmer who lived with his wife and two children at Marble.

Frank was the last child born to "Lee" and Elizabeth Jane. He came into the world on Dec. 5, 1896 in NC and died Nov. 18, 1983 in Buncombe Co. He married Mary E. Craig c1922. Mary was born Sep. 21, 1906 in NC and died May 5, 1994 in Cherokee Co. Both are buried at Moss. Their children were Lucille and Jean. Frank registered for the draft in Marble, Cherokee Co., NC on Jun 5, 1917. He was described as being of medium height and build with dark blue eyes and dark hair. He gave his age as 21 yrs., born Dec. 5, 1896 in Cherokee Co., NC. He was a farmer at Marble, unmarried and cared for his mother.

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Sources: Death certificates; Cherokee Co. Marriages 1860-1905;