Robert Lee & Mary Louise Coffey Miller

Mary Lou Coffey Miller

Mary Louise was the last child of John William and Frances Little Coffey.  She was born Feb. 7, 1905 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC and died there on Jan. 5, 1983.  She married Robert Lee Miller, a native of Concord, Cabarrus Co., NC on Apr. 3, 1937 in Wake Co.  He was born there on Aug. 26, 1908 and died in Durham, Durham Co., NC on May 19, 1954.  Like most of their family, they too are buried at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh.

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Obituary, The News & Observer, Raleigh, NC, 20 May 1954.  and Coffey Family Archive

Robert Miller Dies at Duke

N.C. Banker, Husband of Former Raleigh Woman, to Be Buried Here

ROCKINGHAM, May 18--Robert Lee Miller, 46, executive vice president of the Richmond County Bank in Rockingham, died Wednesday afternoon in Duke Hospital following an illness of three weeks.

He was born in Concord and moved to Hamlet at an early age, where he attended the public schools.  He married Mary Lou Coffey of Raleigh in 1937 and she survives him.  He is also survived by a daughter, Linda Anne Miller; his stepmother, Mrs. T.W. Miller, of Hamlet; seven brothers: Cole Miller of Monroe, Arthur Miller of Greenville, S.C., Jack Miller of Petersburg, Va., Paul Miller, Earl Miller and Glenn Miller, all of Hamlet, T.W. Miller Jr. of California; two sisters, Mrs. Lethia Milson of Charlotte and Mrs. C.L. Barnard, of New Orleans, La.; three half-brothers: Max Miller, Baland Miller, both of Pittsburg, Pa., and Jimmy Miller, of Chapel Hill; and one half-sister, Mrs. Bill Berry of Chapel Hill.  Funeral services will be conducted Friday morning at 11 o'clock in the Joseph G. Brown Chapel, Edenton Street Methodist Church.  Burial will be in Montlawn.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. L.A. Tilley of the First Methodist Church, Rockingham, assisted by the Rev. Howard P. Powell of Edenton Street Methodist Church here.  Mr. Miller was a member of the Official Board of the Rockingham church.

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Picture and obituary courtesy John Coffey of Raleigh

Garland Olando & Frances Elizabeth Coffey Green

Frances Coffey Green

Frances was the third child of John William and Frances Little Coffey. She was born Jul. 4, 1904 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC and died in Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC on Sep. 19, 1979. Her husband was Garland Olando Green, Jr., a son of Garland, Sr. and his wife Nellie W. Bynum. He was born Apr. 21, 1901 in Stedman, Cumberland Co., NC and died on Dec. 6, 1963 in Raleigh. He and Frances were married on Nov. 5, 1927 in Raleigh.

I know of one child, Frances Nell Green, born May 18, 1933 in Raleigh, died Oct. 3, 2003 in Matthews, Mecklenburg Co. Frances married Herbert Basil Magill, born 1930 in Stanly Co., NC, on Aug. 21, 1957 in Raleigh. Frances is buried at Matthews in Mecklenburg Co.

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Obituary, The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), December 1963

Garland O. Green, 62, of 3127 Banbury Rd., died Friday at Rex Hospital. He recently had suffered a heart attack. Mr. Green was commercial sales representative for Carolina Power & Light Co. He was a member of the board of managers of the Illumination Engineering Society, a member of Edenton Street Methodist Church where he served several terms on the official board, and was also a 32nd degree Mason. Surviving are his wife, the former Frances Coffey; a daughter, Mrs. H.B. Magill of Charlotte; his mother, Mrs. Nellie B. Rives of Raleigh, and three grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. today at Edenton Street Methodist Church. The Rev. Marvin Vick and the Rev. Kimsey King will officiate and burial will be in Montlawn with Masonic rites.

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Obituary, The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), 21 September 1997

CHARLOTTE--Mrs. Frances Coffey Green, 93, of Charlotte, died Friday, September 19, 1997 at Sardis Nursing Home.  A graveside service will be held at Montlawn Cemetery in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday, September 25, 1997, at 11 a.m.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7-8 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home, Charlotte, N.C.

Mrs. Green, a native of Wake County, N.C., was a graduate of Raleigh High School and NCCW College, which is now UNCG.  As a member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, Mrs. Green was active in United Methodist Women.

Survivors include her daughter, Mrs. Fran G. Magill of Charlotte; nephews, John N. Coffey Jr. of Raleigh, and Thomas G. Coffey of Naples, Fla.; a niece, Linda Young of Raleigh; two grandsons; four great-grandchildren; and several great nieces and nephews.  Mrs. Green was predeceased by her husband, Garland O. Green.

Memorials may be made to Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Arrangements are by Wilson Funeral Service.

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Photo and obituaries courtesy John Coffey of Raleigh

John William & Frances Elizabeth Little Coffey

John Wm. Coffey

Fannie Little

John William was the second child and first son born to Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey.  He was born in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC on Jun. 18, 1869 and died June. 11, 1960 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC.  He married on Dec. 14, 1898 in Raleigh Frances Elizabeth "Fannie" Little.  Fannie was born Mar. 7, 1878 in Concord, Cabarrus Co., NC and died in Raleigh on Nov. 30, 1967.  They lived out their lives in Wake Co., and are buried at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh.

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John and Fannie were the parents of three girls and one boy.  Natalie Little Coffey was their first born, Sep. 25, 1899, died Sep. 22, 1996.

Obituary, The News & Observer, Raleigh, NC, 24 September 1996

Natalie Little Coffey

RALEIGH--Natalie Little Coffey, died Sunday at age 96 at Mayview Convalescent Center.  She was born in Raleigh on September 25, 1899, the eldest child of John William Coffey and Frances Elizabeth Little. She attended public schools in this city, graduating from Raleigh High School in 1916.  She afterwards attended the North Carolina College for Women at Greensboro, graduating with an A.B. degree in 1920, and a M.A. in 1929.  Her affection for her alma mater was constant throughout her life, and for many years, she served as president of her class.

Education was her calling.  Miss Coffey was one of Raleigh's legendary teachers, honored and beloved by generations of students who cherished her as a counselor and friend.  She began her career in Rocky Mount where she taught for two years.  Returning to Raleigh, she served as an instructor in English and Spanish at Raleigh High School for two years, Hugh Morson High School for 30 years, and Broughton High School for 10 years.  She retired in 1965 after 44 years of service.  Her love and concern for her students extended far beyond the classroom.  Driving a little blue-and-black coupe, affectionately nicknamed the "Coffey Can," she would cheerfully ferry as many as seventeen kids to football games, plays, and concerts.  During the World War II she even coached the Hugh Morson golf team to a state championship.

For much of her life she lived in Boylan Heights with her parents.  In retirement she devoted herself to her family, especially to the children for whom she was their adored "Nannie."  She was a lifelong and devoted member of Edenton Street Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, John N. Coffey, and her sister, Mary Lou C. Miller.

She is survived by a sister, Frances C. Green of Charlotte; two nephews, John N. Coffey Jr. of Raleigh, and Thomas G. Coffey of Naples, Florida; two nieces, Mrs. Herbert B. Magill of Charlotte, and Linda M. Young of Cary; and 11 grandnieces and grandnephews.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, in Montlawn Memorial Park.

 Other children to follow.

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Photos and obituary courtesy of John Coffey of Raleigh

Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey

I have just received these photographs from John W. Coffey in Raleigh, NC. He wrote that the beard seen here on Elijah was added to the photo after Elijah died. John also said that he had been told that the beard was lifted from a photo of Lincoln, but he has not been able to verify that.

Elijah was a son of William Coffey, Jr., and his wife Margaret Robbins. William and Margaret married in Caldwell Co., NC in 1829. In addition to Elijah (second born), their other children were: Elbert, Larkin, Bartlett, Cornelius, Elizabeth, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, William and Margaret.

Elijah and Mary Ann were married on June 20, 1867 in Caldwell Co. Mary Ann was born Feb. 23, 1843, a daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Penley Nelson. She died Jan. 6, 1929 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

Elijah was born on Buffalo Creek in Wilkes Co., NC on Aug. 20, 1838 and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Oct. 6, 1891.

Their children were:

Harriet "Hattie", born May 15, 1868, died Nov. 16, 1954. She married James Alexander Stewart on Dec. 22, 1896 at Harpers Chapel, Patterson Twp.

John William, born Jun. 18, 1869 in Patterson Twp., died Jun. 11, 1960 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC. He married Frances Elizabeth "Fannie" Little on Dec. 14, 1898 in Raleigh.

Lee Thomas, born Jun. 24, 1871 in Patterson Twp., died Apr. 15, 1952 in Minco, Grady Co., OK. He married Isis Orpha Winfree (Hmmm!) on Jun. 29, 1916. Isis was born May 30, 1890 in Beaucoup, Washington Co., IL and died in Minco on Mar. 10, 1976.

George Nelson, born Jan. 17, 1875 in Patterson Twp., died in Wooster, Wayne Co., OH on Oct. 4, 1967. He married Clara Estella Kean on Apr. 22, 1914 in Wooster. She was born Jan. 29, 1889 in Wooster and died there on Jan. 26, 1926.

The last child I have found is Mary Etta, born May 18, 1880, died Jul. 25, 1971. I have no descendants for her.

John wrote that this photograph was taken of Elijah's widow and children in the front yard of their home. We can see a lot of detail in the home. It must have been a beautiful place when seen in its full color and environment.

I can be reached at the above e-mail address if corrections or additions are needed.

Lorenzo Dow

A friend, after reading my blog about Bailey Eliphalet Chaney, wrote to me about the eccentric preacher Lorenzo Dow who labored in the continental wilds shortly after the Revolutionary War.  Lorenzo Dow  lived from 1777-1834.  At one time his autobiography was second only to the Bible in sales.   According to Wikipedia, Lorenzo was one of the most popular names in America in the 1850 census.

Looking through my Edward Coffey Project files, I found only one Coffey with given name of Lorenzo Dow.  This Lorenzo was a son of William Wiley and Mailnda Emeline Little Coffey, born Sep. 12, 1852 in Indiana.  He married Martha J. Wilson, born Oct. 28, 1854 in Gentry Co., and died May 13, 1938 in Stanberry, Gentry Co.  Lorenzo died on Mar. 20, 1920 in Cooper Twp., Gentry Co. 

Martha was the daughter of Sidney and Mary Cooper Wilson.  She and Lorenzo are both buried in the High Ridge Cemetery at Stanberry.

There is another Lorenzo Coffey in my file, but I do not have a middle name for him.  He was born in 1832 in North Carolina, a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  He married Eliza Corder and had at least two children; Wayland and Nora.

Lorenzo Dow Carr, born c1832 in Virginia, married a lady by the name of Margaret who produced at least three sons, one named Alexander D. Carr, born Feb., 1861.  He married Alice E. Coffey on Apr. 17, 1884 in Nelson Co., VA.  Alice was the daughter of Joseph C., Jr. and Nancy Jane Coffey Coffey.

Then, there's Langston Lorenzo Estes, a son of Elijah and Zebiah Walker Wentworth Estes.  Langston was born in Nov., 1839 in North Carolina.  Langston received his name - at least the Langston part - from his grandfather, Langston Estes who married Mary "Polly" Moore.  The only reason these Estes families are in my file is because of a marriage between Lance Estes, a son of Reuben and Delphia Atkins Estes and Elizabeth Coffey c1803 in North Carolina.  Elizabeth was the daughter of James Coffey, Jr., and Mary "Mollie" Moore.

Lorenzo does not seem to be a popular name in a population of nearly 4000 Coffey men in my file, plus a few thousand other male given names in colateral lines.

The Estes and Moore families, along with the Coffeys were some of the earliest settlers in the Globe Valley of western North Carolina, in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain.