Charles William Coffey (1913-1955)

While working with Brad Jackson of Weldon, NC, a major mistake was discovered in most if not all previous issues of the Edward Coffey Project.

The error has been corrected and as the facts were explained.

As I understand the facts, they are:

Charles Mozer "Charlie" Coffey and Ethel Hill Deal had a son named Charles William Coffey, born 1913 in Caldwell Co., NC.

There were two children born in Caldwell, one year apart, and was given the same name.  The incorrect one was listed as the son of Charles and Ethel.

Their actual son was Charles William Coffey, born 23 Aug 1913 in Edgemont, Caldwell Co., and died in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC in 1955. He married twice.  First wife was Mabel Lee Parks, born 1918 and daughter of Joseph Polk Parks and Adeline Gurley.

She and Charles were married 10 Apr 1939 in Henry Co., VA and produced one child, a daughter, Mary Helen Coffey, born 20 Nov. 1939 in Rowan Co., NC.

They divorced sometime later and he married Ethel Olive Edwards. Children are not yet known.

Ethel was the daughter of David and Minnie Henson Edwards and was born 28 Oct., 1923 in Swain Co., NC. They are said to have produced several children, perhaps five, before Charles William died on 5 Mar 1955. He is buried at the now seemingly abandoned Philadelphia Lutheran (old) Cemetery at Granite Falls in Caldwell Co.  His Find A Grave (FAG) memorial is 194083408 and was recently added there by me.

After his death, Ethel married Augustus Lewis Crater, date unknown, and he is said to have adopted the Coffey children and given the Crater surname.

Augustus died 28 Mar 1975 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC and Ethel subsequently married for a third time, this time to Fred Lewis Gurley, Sr. Fred died 7 Dec., 1993 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC and was buried at Abilene Church of Christ Cemetery in Statesville.

Ethel died 30 Nov. 1991 in Hickory at the Catawba Memorial Park.  According to her death certificate no. 050967 death was caused by "persistent sepsis and myelogenous leukemia."  Her remains were cremated at the Bass-Smith Crematory in Hickory. Disposition of ashes are unknown to me.

Her obituary as provided by Brad:

Ethel Gurley

Ethel Edwards [Coffey] Crater Gurley, 68, of Rt. 1, Marvin Street, Claremont, died Nov. 30, 1991 at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville after a period of declining health.

Born Oct. 27, 1923 in Swain County, she was the daughter of the late David and Minnie Henson Edwards.

She was a retired employee of Hickory Chair and a member of the Fifth Creek Presbyterian Church in Statesville.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles William Coffey; and her second husband, Augustus Lewis Crater in 1975.

Surviving are her husband, Fred L. Gurley, Sr.; three sons, [children believed to have been those fathered by Charles William Coffey] Charles "Rick" Crater of Newton, David Crater of Vale and Steve Crater of Columbia, S.C.; two daughters, Terry Withers of Newton, and Nancy Hoffman of Conover; three brothers, Frank Edwards of Canton, Tom Edwards of Asheville, and Jack Edwards of Swannanoa; two sisters, Mary Wilhide of Swannanoa, and Jessie Pruett of Chattanooga, Tenn.; three step-daughters; two stepsons; and 12 grand-children.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Fifth Creek Presbyterian Church in Statesville.  The Rev. W. C. Cockman and Rev. John Milholland will officiate.

The family will receive friends following the graveside service.

Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, 5624 Executive Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, N. C. 28212.

Drum Funeral Home in Conover is in charge of arrangements.

The mistaken Charles William Coffey was the son of George Wesley and Lula Jane Barlow Coffey, born 8 Jun 1914 in Caldwell Co.  He died 31 Jul 1993 and was buried at Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Lenoir, NC.  His wives were Virginia Pearl Kirby and Cynthia Lou Back.

Please contact me if there are additional errors.

Parkie M. Coffey (1913-1939)

Parkie was born on Jan. 23, 1913 in Adair Co., KY to Andrew Jackson "Andy" Coffey and Malinda Ann Wheat.  She was married to Bulon Grider on May 11, 1935[1], and at age 22 was somewhat late in the life of a young woman from Appalachia. Bulon was 26, born Jun. 23, 1908, a son of Hector Owen and Serena Josephine Bryant Grider.

Their first child, Nadean was born Jul. 9, 1935 in Montpelier and died 29 Oct 1999.  She was buried at the Hale Family cemetery.  Her husband was Travis Hale but neither a census record nor a  marriage record has yet been found. At least four children, all daughters, were born to this union: Beverly, Barbara, Pamela and Kathy.

Obituary from memorial site:

Nadean Hale, 64, Russell Springs, died Friday, October 29, 1999 at Russell County Hospital.  She was born in Russell County July 9, 1935 to the late Parkie Coffey Grider and the late Bulon Grider.  She was a homemaker and a member of French Valley United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Shelby Jean Grider, Lacona Grider and Leona Grider. She is survived by her husband Travis Hale; four daughters, Beverly Jo Hale, Russell Springs, Barbara Coffey and her husband Joe, Jamestown, Pamela Mann and her husband Billy, Russell Springs and Kathy Hale, Russell Springs; one brother, Orvis Grider, Columbia, Kentucky; six grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. Services were held Monday, November 1, 1999, 10:00 a.m. at Bernard Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Brian Janes and Rev. Tommy Sexton officiating. Burial was in Hale Cemetery. Special music was provided by Wilma Coffey and Steve Stapp. Pallbearers were Mike Bradshaw, Darrell Robertson, Charles Edwards, Ronnie Hudson, David Hare and Ronnie Coffey. Bernard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The tragedy in the life of Parkie and Bulon began circa Jan., 1937 when their daughter Annie Josephine was born.  The child died of acute bronchitis some four months later on May 27, 1937 in Montpelier.  She was laid to rest at Haynes Cemetery on 28 May 1937.  The Find A Grave memorial for Annie [No. 58330111] names her as a half-sibling to Bulon and Parkie's other children.  But, her death certificate names that couple as her mother and father.

Annie Josephine Grider 

Death Certificate

The tragedy continued with the death of Parkie on 27 Nov. 1939 of endocarditis and septicemia following the birth of twin daughters, Lacona and Leonna on Oct. 15, 1939.  Lacona died the day following her mother's death.  Leonna lived a bit longer before death overcame her on Dec. 8.

Parkie May Coffey Grider

Death Certificate

All were buried at Haynes Cemetery.

Bulon has not been found in the 1940 census.  He enlisted in the US Army at Louisville, KY on Jan. 19, 1943.

Bulon lived until Mar. 16, 1956 when he died as a result of malnutrition and dehydration caused by a brain tumor.  He was also buried at Haynes.  It is not known if her ever remarried. His death certificate reported that he was a widower at the time of death. The informant was his daughter Nadean, using surname Grider. Perhaps she married after his death.

Bulon Grider

Death Certificate

A death certificate has not been found for the other children.  Oddly, the daughter Annie and Shelby appear to have the same birth and death dates. Perhaps they too were twins.

Corrections and/or additions welcomed!

[1]"Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9398-QB5C-H?cc=1804888&wc=QD3Q-W78%3A1589734243 : 17 May 2018), 004544018 > image 150 of 1197; Madison County Courthouse, Richmond.

William Larkin & Nancy A. Drayman Coffey

William Larkin Coffey
Photo via Benna J.[1]

William Larkin was a son of Lewis Elbert and Hester Gravitt Coffey and, Nancy, a daughter of Leonard and Nancy Alexander Draymon.  William was second oldest of at least ten children, born Mar. 23, 1853 in Gilmer Co., GA.  Nancy was born on Feb. 23, 1854 in Pickens Co., SC.

She and Larkin were married on Aug., 6, 1875 in Pickens Co.  He died Nov. 18, 1905 in Morgan Co., TN and she, also in Morgan Co., on Apr. 3, 1945.  Nancy and Larkin ae buried at Crab Orchard cemetery in Oakdale, Morgan Co.

There were at least nine children born to Nancy and Larkin between 1876 and 1897.  The first five were born in GA while the last four were born in TN.

First born was Leonard Edward "Eddie", born Apr., 1876 and died in Hamilton Co., OH in Nov., 1964.  His wife was Eva Jane Gamble, born in 1882 AR, died in OH in 1956.  They were married in Roane Co., TN in 1899.  Their children numbered at least four:  Ella Mae, James, Josie and Bessie Annie.  All were born between 1902 and 1916 in TN except James who was born in KY.

Second born was James Harrison in 1878, Pickens Co., GA.  His spouse was Anna Laymance, married 1897 in Roane Co.  She died in that county in 1962 and James followed in 1966.  Both are buried at Riggs Chapel Cemetery in Harriman, Roane Co.  Their children were Lee, Maud and Robbie.  There are likely more but I have not yet dug any deeper.

Josie was the first daughter born to James and Nancy.  She was born in 1880 and died in 1881.

Rosa Lee was born in 1882, Murray Co., GA, died 1960 in Morgan Co., TN.  Her spouse was Arthur Samuel Shepherd, 1882 VA - 1959 TN.  Both are buried at Rankin Chapel in Oakdale, Morgan Co., TN.

William, born 1885 in Monroe Co., married Lucy Robbins in 1910, Roane Co., TN.  Lucy was the daughter of Zacharia and Mary Hurst Robbins and was born in Bell Co., KY in 1890.  She died in Morgan Co., TN in 1917 nd buried at Crab Orchard Cemetery in Oakdale.  William "Bill" married second to Donnie Robbins c1910 and they were the parents of at least two sons, John and Richard.  Bill is also married at Crab Orchard but a grave site for Donnie has not been found.

Walter F. was born in 1889 and died in Roane Co. in 1970.  He married Nora E. Adkisson in Roane Co. in 1919.  She was born in 1897 and died in Roane Co. in 1982 and, both are buried at Crab Orchard.  Children were Jesse; Clare; Clarennce; and Laura Mae.

Lawrence W. was born in McMinn Co., TN in 1892 and died in Morgan Co., TN in 1971.  He married Essie Edwards in Roane Co. in 1919.  She was born in Roane Co. in 1905 and died in Morgan Co. in 1997.  They too are buried at Crab Orchard.  Their children were seven:  Vance W., Helen Annalene; David Lawrence; Franklin Delano; Leonard Samuel; Wanda Sue and Larry James.

Coral Vernie Mae, born 1894 in Rhea Co., TN, married Charles Robert Clark in Roane Co. in 1912.  He was born in Morgan Co., in 1884 and died in Morgan Co. in 1958.  Coral died in Roane Co. in 1975.  Both are buried at Rankins Chapel cemetery in Oakdale.  Their children were:  Rev. Arnold Robert; Myrtle; Mabel; Walter Larkin; Albert Lewis; Lela Lodena; Carlene; Carl Boone; and Eva V.

The last child born to Larkin and Nancy was Minnie in 1897, Cumberland Co., TN.  Minnie married David Lee Blake in Roane Co. in 1924.  Both died at Pine Orchard in Morgan Co.; he in 1958, she in 1931. Both are buried at the Pine Orchard cemetery.

Updates and corrections welcomed.

Additional information is available for many of the Larkin and Nancy descendants.

  Jack

[1] This researcher has posted photos of other members of Larkin's family on Find-A-Grave memorial pages.  Click on the link in the caption under Larkin's photo to get started.

William and Annie Boone Coffey at Rufus Cemetery in Caldwell Co., NC

William was a son of Thomas and Sarah Fields Coffey, born Nov. 29, 1782 in Wilkes Co., NC and died there on May 15, 1839.  That part of Wilkes Co. later became part of Caldwell Co.  Anna "Annie" Boone was a daughter of Jese and Sarah McMahan Boone, born Jul. 26, 1785 in Burke Co., died Jan. 16, 1876 in Caldwell Co.  Both are buried at the Rufus Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir, Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co

In fact, a number of William and Anna's descendants are buried at Rufus.  At first examination of this cemetery, most appear to be from son Wilborn, born May 14, 1807 in Burke Co., died in Caldwell Nov. 27, 1897; and from son Calvin, born Sep. 30, 1819, died Apr. 2, 1847, also in Caldwell Co..

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Harriet Minerva Moore, wife of James Altimon Bradshaw, and daughter of Jesse Richmond Moore and Charlotte Caroline Coffey, born Oct. 7, 1878, died Jan. 22, 1970.  Charlotte Caroline was a daughter of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey and a granddaughter of William and Annie, marking Harriet a great-granddaughter.

Thelma Erin Bradshaw, daughter of James Altimon and Harriet Minerva Moore Bradshaw, born Mar. 31, 1911 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 4, 1969.  Thelma was a great great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Beulah Evelyn, daughter of Robert Finley Coffey and Crettie May Rich and, wife of George Wesley Nichols.  She was born Aug. 22, 1923, Caldwell Co., died Sep. 8, 2009 at Lenoir.  Beulah was a first cousin to William, 5x removed.

Bruce Glen, son of Julius Pinkney and Louise Ann Edwards Coffey and, husband of Amy Moore.  He was born Dec. 24, 1908 in Caldwell Co., died Sep. 2, 1971 at Lenoir.  Julius was a great grandson of William and Annie, making Bruce a great great grandson.  Amy was the daughter of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore.  She was born Apr. 12, 1910 in Caldwell Co., died Jan. 25, 1987.

Mabel Marie, wife of Forrest Moore Green and daughter of Bruce Glen and Amy Moore Coffey.  She was born Nov. 21, 1937 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Jul. 10, 2002.  She was a great great great grand daughter of William and Annie.  Forrest Moore Greene, a son of W. Buster and Wilma Victoria. Moore Greene. Forest was a third great grandson of William and Annie.  He was born Feb. 14, 1937 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Aug. 23, 1999.

Calvin, son of William and Annie, husband of Mary Greene.  He was born Sep. 30, 1819 in NC and died Apr. 2, 1847 in Caldwell Co.  Mary, parents unknown, was born Feb. 2, 1820 in NC and died Jun. 23, 1871 in Caldwell Co.

Wilborn, son of William and Annie, husband of Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell, born May 14, 1807 in Burke Co., died Nov. 27, 1897 in Caldwell Co.  Sallie was the daughter of William and Lucy Day Cottrell, born May 1, 1812 in Wilkes Co., died Mar. 25, 1894 in Caldwell Co.

William Rufus, son of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey and, husband of Harriet E. Moore.  He was born Nov. 17, 1832 in Caldwell Co., died Dec. 7, 1902.  He was a grandson of William and Anna.  Harriet was born May 3, 1835 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 2, 1918.  Harriet was a daughter of David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore, born May 3, 1835 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 2, 1918.

Charlotte Caroline, wife of Jesse Richmond Moore, daughter of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey, born Dec. 2, 1851 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 18, 1944 in Caldwell.  She was a grand daughter of William and Annie.  Jesse was a son of David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore.  He was born Mar. 16, 1849 in Caldwell Co., died there on Sep. 13, 1921.

Stella Victoria Gragg, wife of Lawrence Hill Moore, was a daughter of John Boone Gragg and Cordelia Adaline Coffey.  Cordelia was a grand daughter of William and Annie, making Stella a great grand daughter.  Stella was born Jul. 10, 1882 in Caldwell Co., died Aug. 30, 1943.  Lawrence Hill was a great grandson of William and Annie.  He was the son of Jesse Richmond and Charlotte Caroline Coffey Moore.

Wilma Victoria Moore, daughter of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore and wife of W. (Willie or William) Buster Greene, was born Apr. 15, 1909 and died Feb. 14, 2004.  She was a double great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Sarah Ellen was a daughter of Jesse Richmond and Charlotte Caroline Coffey Moore and a great grand daughter of William and Annie. She was the wife of Adolphus Monroe Mast, son of John Allen Mast and Martha Elizabeth Moore.  He was born Jul. 22, 1865 in Watauga Co., and died in Caldwell Co. on Dec. 20, 1923.

Ruth Mast, daughter of Adolphus and Sarah, was born Dec. 24, 1898 in Caldwell Co. and died on Oct. 28, 1973.  Ruth was a second great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Addie Caroline Moore, daughter of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore, and the wife of Waitsel Coy Greene.  Addie was second great granddaughter of William and Annie.  I have not yet found info on Waitsel except that he was born Feb. 8, 1909.

Lex Wilburn Mast, Jr., son of Lex, Sr. and Annie Lenoir Greene Mast, was born Apr. 14, 1944 in Caldwell Co. and died Sep. 6, 1974.  He was a third great grandson of William and Annie.

Dermont Richmond Moore, a son of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore, was born Apr. 12, 1917 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jun. 2, 2003.  He was a second great grandson of William and Annie.

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The Rufus Cemetery is located off the Mulberry Creek Road but, it appears from Google Maps that the entrance to it is located on the Boone Fork Park Road.  Geo Coordinates for that entrance are: Latitude: 36° 0' 0.74" N, Longitude: 81° 38' 26.51" W.  Click on the "Show on Google Maps" below and the link will take you to a very good satellite view of the area.

Show on Google Maps

Hopefully, I've made the correct kinship calculations. Please let me know of any errors.

William R. & Julia Ann Coffey Stogsdill

The Stogsdill surname has been found spelled in various ways and, it takes a bit of time to search for them in the census record.

Julia was the daughter of Albert and Sarah Goodnight Coffey.  Laurence Coffey, in his work Thomas Coffey and His Descendants, tells us that they were married and, the Indiana State Library tells us they were married on Dec. 5, 1833 in Monroe Co., IN.

According to one biography that I have found for the family tells us that Wesley Coffey was the eldest of their only two children. The other child was Julia Ann, born in IN in Aug., 1836.  Actually, she was the elder of the two because Wesley was born not born until Dec. 13, 1837 in Clay Twp., Owen Co., IN.  Of course, the Bio could be accurate and Julia's birth month and year could be off by a couple of years.  I have no source for the 1836 date.

In any event, Julia Ann married William R. Stogsdill on Nov. 2, 1856 in Owen Co.*  They lived in Ellettsville and Spencer through at least 1880 when I lose them in the census.  As far as I can determine, she and William had only one child, a son named Mandeville E. Stogsdill, born in Jan., 1857.

Mandeville married Julia F. Edwards on Sep. 26, 1877 in Owen Co.**  They had at least four children:  Mable Olive "Olive," born Sep., 1880, died Jun. 6, 1957 in Los Angeles Co., CA and was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, Los Angeles Co., CA.  Olive married Frank A. Ross on Oct. 29, 1900 in Marion Co., IN.*  Their next child was Rush, born May 1886, died Dec. 26, 1937 in Joplin, Jasper Co., MO.  I have one marriage record for him to Ada Babbs on Sep. 30, 1906.  His headstone in Spring Vale Cemetery, Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN tells us that he was married to Ruth Ann Hetrick at the time of death.  The third child born to Mandeville and Julia was Layton, born Oct., 1893 and who married Meta G. Bender on Aug. 29, 1916* in Tippecanoe Co.  Their fourth and last know child was Ralph, born c1896. I have found no additional information on him.

Albert's son Wesley W. Coffey was born Dec. 13, 1837 in Clay Twp., Owen Co. and died there before 1910.  His wife was Laura Joseph Howe, born in July 1843 to Amon Price and Harriet C. Thatcher Howe. I know of three children:  Byron Howe, born Jan. 28, 1866, died Jul. 4, 1945 in Los Angeles County.  He married Nellie Branam on Jan. 9, 1894 in Owen Co.  Nellie was born in Sep., 1873 to Larose and Susan Amanda Halbert Branham and died in Los Angeles Co. on Jul. 4, 1962.  Interesting that she died 17 years to the day after Byron.  Their children were:  Thatcher Howe, Naomi Josephine, Cecile Louise and Jule Hubert.

Wesley's other children were Hallie H., born 1874, died 1969 and, Albert Price, born 1876, died 1946, both in Los Angeles Co.  I have no other information on these two.

The following biography*** tells us a bit more about Wesley:

"Wesley Coffey, attorney at law, was born December 13, 1843 [sic] in Clay Township, Owen County.  His parents, Albert and Sarah (Gooderight) [sic] [Goodnight] Coffey - the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Kentucky - emigrated to Indiana from North Carolina about 1828.  Four years later they came to Owen County, and located in Clay Township, on a farm where the mother now resides.  The father died in October of 1838.

Wesley is the elder of two children, and lived at home until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. J. H. Martin, and was in active service for two years.  Then, on account of ill-health, he was put on detached service, sent to Frederick, Md., and remained there until the close of the war.  He participated in the following battles:  Rich Mountain, Cheat Mountain and battle of Winchester.

At the close of the war, he returned home to Owen County, remained one year, after which he purchased a farm in Clay Township, where he remained two years.  He then sold and went into the grocery business at Spencer with W. R. Stogsdil.  About 1875, he sold his interest and went into the insurance business, and the study of the bar in Spencer.

He was married in April, 1865, to Laura J. Howe, daughter of Amon P. and Harriet Howe, old settlers in Owen County.  Mr. Coffey is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the K. of P., of the Royal Arcanum, and the Grand Army of the Republic, and was for four years Justice of the Peace of Owen County.  He is a public spirited citizen, and highly estemed [sic] by those [who] know him."

In 1860 Wesley was found living with William and Julia Stogsdill in Elletsville.  In 1861 he enlisted in Co. H, 14th Indiana Volunteers in Clay Co.  He married Laura Josephine on Apr. 13, 1865 in Owen Co.* and, from 1870 to 1900 he and Laura appeared in the Owen Co. census.  He died before 1910 when Laura was found as head of household in Spencer.  In 1920 she had relocated to Indianapolis, Marion Co. and by 1930 was in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co.  In 1939 and again in 1941 she was living with children Hallie and Albert at 709 E. Hellman Ave. in Wilmar City, Los Angeles Co.¹ I have not found a death date for her.

Please drop me a note if you can tell me where these Coffey and Stogsdill families are buried.

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*Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920;.Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.
**Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959." index and images, Family Search index, FamilySearch, 2009. Digital copies of originals housed in Circuit Court Clerk Offices in various counties throughout Indiana. (www.familysearch.org).
***Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884), Page 832.
¹Los Angeles county city directories.

William Rufus & Harriet E. Moore Coffey

William Rufus, a son of Wilborn and Sallie Cottrell Coffey, was born Nov. 17, 1832 in Caldwell Co., NC and died there on Dec. 7, 1902.  He married Harriet E. Moore, born May 3, 1835 to David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore, on Dec. 4, 1856.  Both are buried at the Rufus Baptist Church Cemetery in the Mulberry community of Caldwell Co.

There were at least three children born to this couple.  The first I know of was Julius Pinkney, born Aug. 24, 1858, died Feb. 11, 1933 in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co.  Julius married Louise Ann Edwards on Mar. 30, 1913 in Rowan Co., NC.  She was a daughter of William Dudley and Eunity [sic] Emeline Whitley Edwards. Julius and Louise are buried at the Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Marshville, Union Co., NC.

In the on-line death records index in Caldwell Co., Julius is recorded as Julius Penley Coffey.  His death certificate also provides Penley as his middle name.  His marriage to Louise is recorded as Julius Pinkney and, his headstone is also engraved with that name.  Julius' death certificate reports him buried at "Philadelphia," which I presume to be the Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lenoir.  He may indeed be there, but his headstones, shared with Louise, is at Pleasant Grove.

Other genealogical difficulties with this couple include the birth of their children.  The first was Bruce Glen, which according to his death certificate was born Dec. 24, 1908 in Caldwell Co., some five plus years before his parents marriage.  The certificate also names his parents as Julius and Louise.  Bruce married Amy Moore, a daughter of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore in 1928, Caldwell Co.  Bruce died in Lenoir on Sep. 2, 1971 and Amy on Jan. 25, 1987.  Both are buried at Rufus Baptist Church cemetery.

Hazel Eugenia is the only other child known to me.  According to her death certificate, she was born on Feb. 28, 1913, just about a month before her parents marriage.  She married Thomas Carl Jones, date and place not known.  She died Nov. 14, 1964 at home in Lenoir and was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in that city.

Read my earlier blog for my views on using death certificates and headstones as source data.

Second child born to William Rufus and Harriet was Sarah Ellen, born Apr. 14, 1861 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 2, 1942 in Butler, Johnson Co., TN.  Her spouse is said to have been Davis S. Vaught.*  No further information.

Their third child was David Milton, born June, 1865 in Caldwell Co.  He married Ida Susan Vaught,** likely a sister to David, on May 15, 1893 in Johnson Co., TN.  I know of two children:  David Duke Coffey, born May 22, 1897 and Broady Bailey, born Feb. 22, 1898.  Both were born in Watauga Co., NC.

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*Tennessee Deaths and Burials, 1874-1955, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: various dates).
**Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

William Larkin Coffey & Nancy A. Dryman

William Larkin Coffey was a son of Lewis Elbert & Jester "Hettie" Gravitt Coffey. He was born in Gilmer Co., GA on Mar. 23, 1853 and died in Morgan Co., TN on Nov. 18, 1905. He married Nancy A. Dryman, a daughter of Leonard and Nancy Alexander Dryman on Aug. 6, 1875 in Pickens Co., GA. Nancy was born there on Feb. 23, 1854 and died in Oakdale, Morgan Co., TN on Apr. 3, 1945.

Nancy and William were the parents of nine children:

Leonard Edward, born Apr., 1876 in Georgia, died Nov. 7, 1964 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH. He married Eva Jane Gamble on Spe. 15, 1899 in Roane Co., TN. She was born on Feb. 14, 1882 in Arkansas and died Dec. 28, 1956 in Hamilton Co., OH. They are buried at Crab Orchard Cemetery in Oakdale.

James Harrison, born Jul. 29, 1878 in Pickens Co., died Jul. 15, 1966 in Harriman, Roane Co. TN. His wife was Annie Laymance, born Feb. 21, 1880 in TN, died Aug. 16, 1962 in Roane Co. They were married on Feb. 28, 1897 in Roane Co. They are buried at Riggs Chapel Cemetery in Harriman.

Josie, born Jun. 28, 1880 in GA, died in Murray Co., GA on Nov. 6, 1881. Josie's burial site is unknown to me at the moment.

Rosa Lee, born Nov. 16, 1882 in Murray Co., GA, died Oct. 8, 1960 in Morgan Co., TN. Rosa married Arthur Samuel Shepherd, born Dec. 20, 1882 in VA, died Sep. 17, 1959 in Morgan Co. They are buried at Rankin Chapel Cemetery in Oakdale, Morgan Co.

William M. "Bill,", born Sep. 5, 1855 in Monroe Co., GA, died Jan. 3, 1944 in Morgan Co. His first wife was Lucy Robbins, a daughter of Zachariah & Mary Hurst Robbins. They were married on Dec. 17, 1910 in Roane Co. Lucy was born Nov., 1890 in Bell Co., KY and died in Morgan Co., TN on Mar. 25, 1917. Sometime after her death Bill married her sister, Donnie. William and Lucy are buried at Crab Orchard. I have not located Donnie's burial site.

Walter F., born Mar. 3, 1889 in TN, died My 31, 1970 in Roane Co. He married Nora E. Adkisson, born Jul. 27, 1897 in TN, died Oct. 12, 1982 in Roane Co. Both are buried at Crab Orchard along with three of their children: Jesse Alden, born Jul. 9, 1920, died Apr. 18, 2008; Clara Leon, born Mar. 22, 1922, died Dec. 19, 1944; Clarence William, born Mar. 22, 1922, died May 19, 1998 [twin to Clara]. A fourth child, Laura Mae, was born Oct. 5, 1926 and died Mar. 6, 2000. She is buried at Piney Grove Cemetery near Midtown, Roane Co.

Lawrence W., born Dec. 5, 1891 in McMinn Co., TN, died Jan. 9, 1971 in Morgan Co. He married Essie Edwards on Jun. 5, 1919 in Roane Co. Essie was born Jun. 15, 1905 in Roane Co., and died Jun. 17, 1997 in Morgan Co. They are also buried at Crab Orchard with five of their six children: Vance W., born Nov. 26, 1920, died Oct. 8, 1988; Helen Annalene, born Dec. 16, 1923, died July 20, 1993; Franklin Delano, born Noc. 23, 1932, died Dec. 2, 1998. He is buried at Roane Memorial Gardens in Rockwood, Roane Co. Leonard, born May 10, 1935, died May 2, 2008 and Larry James, born May 6, 1944, died Jul 11, 1972 are at Crab Orchard.

Coral Vernie Mae, born Jun. 22, 1894 in Rhea Co., TN, died Mar. 3, 1975 in Roane Co.  She married Charles Robert Clark on Mar. 11, 1912 in Roane Co.  Charles was born in Morgan Co. on Mar. 30, 1884 and died there on Mar. 23, 1958.  Together, Charles and Coral had eight children:

1) Rev. Arnold Robert, born Apr. 22, 1914, died Sep. 28, 1994.  He married Aline Brooks on Jun. 23, 1940 in TN.  Aline was born Sep. 10, 1916 in Roane Co., and died there on Dec. 20, 1988.  Both are buried at Rankin Chapel Cemetery in Oakdale, Morgan Co.

2) Mable, born Apr. 16, 1916 in Morgan Co. and there died Aug. 24, 1999.  Her husband was David Morgan Blake to whom she was married on Apr. 4, 1951.  He died Dec. 9, 1963, she Aug. 24, 1999, both in Oakdale and are buried at Rankin Chapel.

3) Myrtle, twin to Mabel, died Apr. 15, 2007 in Oakdale.  She married the REv. Fred Ewing Copeland, born Mar. 28, 1918 in Fulton Co., AR, died Feb. 24, 2009 in TN.  They too are buried at Rankin Chapel.

4) Walter Larkin, born May 9, 1918, died Nov. 9, 2006, and buried at Mount Teman Baptist Church cemetery at Rockwood in Roane Co.

5) Albert Lewis, born Nov. 8, 1920 in Oakdale, died Jan. 7, 2009 at Harriman and is buried at Rankin Chapel.

6) Lela Lodena, born Nov. 13, 1922 in Morgan Co. and, died there on Dec. 17, 1999.  Her spouse was Billie Watson, born Jan. 6, 1925, died Oct. 20, 2006.  They are also buried at Rankin Chapel.

7) Carl Boone, born Jun. 2, 1925, died Mar 9, 1995 at Oak Ridge in Anderson Co., TN.  He was also buried at Rankin Chapel.

8) Twin sister to Carl, Carlene, died shortly after birth and also buried at Rankin Chapel.

A descendant who uses the name "Benna J." has established several very nice memorial pages for this family on Find-A-Grave and, has included photographs and obituaries.   Start with this page and following the links she has established.