Virgil Coffee

Coffey Cousins lost a dear and great friend today.

Virgil Coffee died this morning at about 7:30MST in Albuquerque, NM where he lived with his son Dale and his family. Another son, Ed Coffee of Dale City, VA also survives. There are other children and grandchildren who survive but I do not know all of them. Ed is current "president" of Coffey Cousins'.

Anyone who ever met Virgil at one of the Coffey Cousins' reunions knows how knowledgeable he was about his genealogy. He could recite more lineages from memory than most people can store on computers.

Arrangements were incomplete when I spoke to the family this afternoon.

I have expressed my condolences to the family and have notified those Coffey Cousins' for whom I have an e-mail address. Please forward a link to this entry to anyone who you believe may have known Virgil, and who may not know about his death.

Please keep Virgil and his family in your prayers!

Obituary:

Virgil Oren Coffee, 94, of McIntosh, passed away January 13, 2008, at the home of his son Dale in Rio Rancho. Born October 5, 1913, in Hugo, Oklahoma, to James Carroll and Lelia Jane Kendrick Coffee. He was the fourth of their six children.

Virgil lived in Hugo and attended public schools there. During the late 1920's and early 1930's he worked a variety of agriculture related jobs until he finally became a short-order cook. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a cook in camps in California. In 1935 he enlisted in the United States Army; becoming an officer during World War II. He served in the Medical Service Corps performing medical evacuation during combat operations in Europe. When conflict began in Korea in 1950 he saw action again as an officer conducting medical evacuation during combat operations. He retired from the Army in 1956, with the rank of Major, while serving as medical supply officer of the station hospital, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. After working for the New Mexico National Guard in supply operations in the late 1950's, he worked as a weapons management specialist for the Defense Nuclear Agency in Albuquerque, 1960-73. During this period he was detached to work with the State Department's AID mission in Vietnam, 1967-68. He was in Saigon during the Tet Offensive.

Virgil married a young widow, Iva Fern Wingfield Green, June 3, 1938, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They had seven children. The family lived in California, Arizona, New Mexico (Alamogordo), Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico (Albuquerque, 1953-61; McIntosh, 1961-2008).

Virgil was predeceased by his parents; his wife; one son, Daniel Lee Coffee; one great-grandson, Damon Coffee; two brothers, Robert Lee and James Haskell Coffee; and two sisters, Margaret and Nadine Coffee.

He is survived by three sons, Edwin Russell Coffee and wife Phyllis of Woodbridge, VA; Virgil Oren Coffee, Jr. of Albuquerque; Dale Scott Coffee and wife Nola of Rio Rancho; three daughters, Iva Fern Barclay and husband Ernest of Moriarity; Barbara Jean Gonzales and husband Tommy of Blue Water Lake; Patricia Laverne Britt of Odessa, Texas; brother Edwin Russell Coffee of Bakersfield, California; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

General John E. Coffey of Georgia

Sometime ago I wrote about General John E. Coffey of Georgia. After that blog I received information from one of his descendants, Frank V. Coffey of Florida. Click here to read that blog.

Today I received additional information from Frank:

An important caveat: Gen. John E. Coffee did not take part in the War of 1812.

My ancestor, Gen. John E. Coffee of Georgia (1782-1836), is understandably often confused with his first cousin Gen. John A. Coffee of Tennessee (1792-1833). The Tennessee Coffee, by far the more famous, was Andrew Jackson's best friend, comrade in arms who is often thought to have been the strategic genius behind the Battle of New Orleans, and married (1809) Mary Donelson, Rachel Jackson's niece. Coffee, who played no role in Jackson's presidential career (although he did go to Washington during the nullification crisis in 1833, just before his death), left Nashville and, as part of a land speculation project, moved to Alabama and founded the city of Florence where he died 7 July 1833.

John E. Coffee of Georgia, just as much a Jackson partisan as his cousin, named the town where he settled Jacksonville and served in the US Congress during both terms of the Jackson administration. He fought with Jackson in the Seminole wars in Florida and was also Agent for Indian Affairs for the State of Georgia. The military supply road which he built from his home in Jacksonville, Georgia, to present-day Madison, Florida, is still known as The Old Coffee Road. Following his death in 1836 and the final clearance of the Indians in 1838 (Trail of Tears), most of his family moved down the Coffee Road and settled in Madison where many remain to this day. My grandfather Christopher Columbus Coffee, Jr., was born in Madison but lived
most of his life in Jacksonville, Florida, where I was born.

In the 1920s some ignorant busybody DAR ladies, conflating the history of the two generals, had the remains of my ancestor dug up (he was buried on his Jacksonville plantation) and re-interred in McRae, 20 miles to the north, where they erected an elaborate marker which claims that Gen. John E. Coffee of Georgia was a member of the Tennessee Volunteers and took part in the Battle of New Orleans!

General John E. Coffee of Georgia

Back in Jan., 2006 I wrote about the two generals Coffee, one a son of Peter Coffey, Jr., and wife Sarah Smith. John is recorded in the History of Dodge County [GA, Cobb, Addiie Davis : Atlanta, Foote & Davies Co., 1932, pgs 271] as having fought in the War of 1812.

Today I received the following from Frank V. Coffee, a descendant of General John E. Coffey:

"Gen. John E. Coffee is believed to have fought with Jackson in the 1817-18 Seminole War in Florida and he was active in the numerous skirmishes designed to ultimately drive the Indians from Georgia.

I'm pretty sure he didn't fight in the War of 1812 because during that time he was engaged in moving his family from Powelton, Georgia, to the banks of the Ocmulgee and establishing his plantation there.

In 1838, for reasons I have never been able to ascertain, almost all the Coffees remaining in Jacksonville, Georgia, following the General's death moved en masse to Madison County, Florida, via the so-called Old Coffee Road."

Emma Viola Coffey

Corrected Information

Emma Viola Coffey was the sister of Lee Ella Coffey who married William Washington Collins. She was born Nov. 2, 1888 in Caldwell Co. Emma is thought to have died in about 1987, a year or so shy of her 100th birthday.

She married Emory Joel Young Dec. 28, 1907 in Watauga Co. Emory was born Apr. 4, 1882 and died Mar. 14, 1929 in North Carolina.

Emma and Emory had at least six children:

Charles Howell, born Sep. 26, 1910

Mary Lou, born Apr. 2, 1913, died 2000

Thomas Wood, born Nov. 25, 1915

Emery Hugh, born Oct. 25, 1917

Hardin Darrell, born Jul. 3, 1920

Rawleigh Edgar, born Oct. 7, 1922

Mary Lou's obituary, probably from the local Watauga Democrat or Blowing Rocket newspaper, reads:

Mrs. Suddreth

Mrs. Mary Lou Young Suddreth, age 87, of 1471 Payne Branch Road, Blowing Rock, widow of John T. "Jay" Suddreth, died Saturday, September 23 at Blowing Rock Hospital.

Mrs. Suddreth was born April 2, 1913 in the Shull's Mills community of Watauga County, a daughter of the late Emory Joel and Emma Viola Coffey Young. She was a retired weaver from Goodwin Weavers in Blowing Rock, and a member of the Perkinsville Baptist Church in Boone.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Shoemake of Blowing Rock; two granddaughters, Michele Shoemake of Lakewood, Colorado and Emma Louise russell of Sunrise, Florida; three grandsons, Doyle Shoemake of Lakeland, Florida; Richard Shoemake and Joseph Shoemake, both of Blowing Rock; and one brother, Hugh Young and wife Florence, of Monetta, South Carolina. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Suddreth was preceded in death by six brothers; Howard, Charlie, Thomas, Hardin, Edgar and Wesley Young.

Graveside services were conducted on Tuesday morning at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock. Officiating were the Rev. Vance Triplett and the Rev. David Austin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service of Boone was in charge of the arrangements.

Photo courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley

Lee Ella Coffey (Corrected Info)

William Washington and Lee Ella Coffey Collins

Lee Ella Coffey was born Nov., 1881 in Caldwell Co., NC to Thomas Avery Coffey and Louisa E. Gragg. She was a grand-daughter of Austin Coffey and Mary A. Blaylock, and half-niece to the infamous Keith Blaylock.

Lee Ella is shown here with her second husband, William Washington Collins, born c1867 in Georgia. They were married c1903 in North Carolina.

She and William had at least three children:

• E. Spencer Halton, born Oct. 9, 1903
• De Estia Sylvia*, born Dec. 14, 1905
• Thomas William Staple, born Sep. 6, 1915

Lee and William also adopted Norma Pauline Coffey, the daughter of Olin James Coffey.
Lee Ella's first husband was Joseph Commodore Church, born Jul. 1878 in North Carolina. They had one child, a daughter Alma who married Orville Johnson of Tennessee.

*Some comments to me indicate that her given name was Deatte but was called Sally. The NC Birth Index lists her as De Estia Sylvia Collins**.

Her obituary reads:

Miss Sally Collins, age 92, of 112 Collins Store Road, Blowing Rock, died Thursday morning, January 15 [1997], at Watauga Medical Center.

A retired motel owner and operator and former merchant, Miss Collis was born at Shulls Mills on December 14, 1905, a daughter of the late W.W. and LeElla Coffey Collins. She was a member of the Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church.

Miss Collins is survived by one sister, Norma Hodges*** and husband, Rev. Howard Hodges of Morganton, N.C.; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Edna Hampton of Boone, two nephews, William S. Collins, Jr. of Conway, South Carolina and Roy Johnson of Kingsport, Tennessee; four nieces, Sharon Dowdy of Altamont Springs, Florida, Ernestine Nanny of Marion, S.C., Rebecca Parsons, of Lexington, N.C. and Susan Ballard of Charlotte, N.C.; several great nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.W. and LeElla Coffey Collins, two brothers, Staple Collins and Spencer Collins, two half brothers and two half sisters.

Funeral services for Miss Collins were conducted Saturday, January 18 at The Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church. Officiating was the Rev. Ronnie Jones and the Rev. Gordon Nobles. Interment followed in the Boone Fork Cemetery.

Memorials may be considered to the Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church, in care of Susan Coffey, 146, Wilson Coffey Road, Blowing Rock, NC 25605.

Austin and Barnes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

**Name: De Estia Sylvia Collins Date of Birth: 14 Dec 1905 Gender: Female Race: White Birth County: Watauga Parent1 Name: William Washington Collins Parent2 Name: Lee Ella Coffey Roll Number: B_C102_66001 Volume: 18 Page: 53

***Norma Pauline Coffey Hodges died on Nov. 9, 2003 in Denton, Davidson Co., NC. Her obituary reads:

DENTON--Mrs. Norma C. Hodges, 79, of Denton, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003, at her home. Born in Watauga County on June 3, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Olin J. and Estie Coffey Coffey and was a homemaker and a member of Zion Baptist Church in Morganton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, the Rev. Howard Thomas Hodges, who died April 20, 2001. She also was preceded in death by her foster family, Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Collins, Sally Collins, Spencer and Staple Collins.

She is survived by daughters, Rebecca Parsons and husband, Lloyd, of Denton, and Susan Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C.; grandchildren, Jessica, Caitlin and Robb Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C. and Jen Parsons of Richlands and Amanda Perez of High Point.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Zion Baptist Church in Morganton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Cedar Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1048, Linwood, N.C. 27299.

Briggs Funeral Home in Denton is assisting the family.

Photo courtesy of Margaret Coffey Farley

Oliver N. Coffey

While researching the William H. and Mary Faulkner Coffey family, I found several researchers who claim that Oliver N. Coffey, born Dec. 2, 1832, died Dec. 30, 1900 is one of their sons.

Actually, Oliver is their grandson, born to their son Hodge Raymond Coffey. Hodge was born about 1812 in North Carolina and married Hannah Wilson on Nov. 13, 1831 in Owen Co., IN. Hannah was born about 1809 in North Carolina.

Oliver was their oldest child, and married Lydia S. Litton on Jan. 30, 1851 in Owen Co. I can find only one child born to this union: Joshua Benton Coffey, born about 1860, died Dec. 7, 1929.

Joshua married Mary Ester (Mollie) Bonner, who was born May 27, 1870 in Harrisburg, PA, died May 7, 1957 in Hays, Ellis Co., KS. Their son, Dr. Francis (Frank) Ellsworth Coffey was born Aug. 1, 1891 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., KS and died Aug. 27, 1946 in Hays, Ellis Co., KS. His wife, Marguerite Hanning Burger was born Jul. 4, 1893 in Kansas City, KS and died Jan. 4, 1984 in Hays, KS.

They had two children: Dr. Roy B. Coffey, born Jan. 26, 1924, and D. Joanne Coffey, born about 1928.

Dr. Roy Coffey died in Port Charlotte, FL on May 6, 2004. His obituary lists survivors as his wife, Louise, two daughters, Diane Sullivan and Gail Kelling; four sons, Frank, Charles, Lee and Gary as well as a sister Joanne Ramph of Kansas. Dr. Coffey was buried with military honors in the Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell.

Other children of Hodge and Hannah were:

James L., born Jun. 9, 1834, died Nov. 6, 1890 who married Elizabeth Litton. Children were Martha, born about 1856 and Laura, born about 1858. There may have been others, but I have not found them yet.

Silas D. M., born Feb. 23, 1839, died Mar. 6, 1904 in Manatee Co., FL. He married Caroline Byles, born abt. 1836 in PA, died Apr. 9, 1915 in Brazil, Clay Co., IL. I have found no descendants of this union.

Mary A. R., born abt. 1841 in Indiana, married David H. Allen May 9, 1859. I have found no descendants of this union.

Serena T., born about 1846, and Isaac. These children may have died young. I have not found any information on them.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections.



Sources:

Hodge Raymond - 1850 Owen Co., Dist. 83, Washington Twp., dwelling 275, family 276, Hodge R. Coffey, age 38, male, farmer, $1600, born NC; Hannah, age 41, female, born NC; Oliver N., age 18, male, farming, born IN; James L. R., age 15, male, farming, born IN; Silas D.M., age 11, male, born IN; Mary A. R., age 9, female, born IN; Sarene T., age 3, female, born IN

Oliver N. - Marriage: Name: Oliver N Coffey Spouse Name: Lydia S Litton Marriage Date: 30 Jan 1851 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 27 OS Page: 228

Joshua Benton - 1910 Wyandotte Co., Kansas City, Pct. 23, Ward 5, ED117, Sheet 11A, dwelling 271, family 226, Coffey, Joshua B., head, male, white, age 49, married once for 22 yrs., born IN, father born IN, mother born NC; Mary E., wife, female, white, age 38, married once for 22 yrs., mother of 1, 1 living, born PA, parents born PA; Francis E., son, male, white, age 18, single, born KS, father born IN, mother born PA; Bonner, William B., bro-in-law, male, white, age 36, widower, born PA, parents born PA, farmer; Winchester, Efford L., cousin, male, white, age 34, widower, born IN, parents born US, car inspector for railroad.

1920 Wyandotte Co., Kansas City, Ward 4, ED171, Sheet No. 23A, 1400 Throuwell [?] Ave., dwelling 524, family 538, Coffey, Joshua B., head, male, white, age 52, married, born IN, father born IN, mother born NC, machinest for railroad; Mary Coffey, wife, female, white, age 42, married, born PA, parents born PA, dance teacher; Frank, son, male, white, age 26, married, born KS, father born IN, mother born PA, none; Marguerite, dau.-in-law, female, white, age 24, married, born KS, fathere born PA, mother born IR, saleslady at grocery store; Netter, George W., lodger, male, white, age 40, married, born KS, father born PA, mother born KS, railroad office clerk; Netter, Mary J., lodger, female, white, age 45, married, born PA, parents born England; George, Jr., lodger, male, white, age 9, born KS, father born KS, mother born PA

James L. - 1860 Gentry Co., Twp. 63, Alanthus Grove PO, dwelling 1023, family 1019, James L. Coffee, age 26, male, mechanic, $100, $200, born IA; Elizabeth, age 21, female, born IA; Martha, age 4, female, borm MO; Laura, age 2, female, born MO