Thomas Stuart Coffey (follow-up)

Thomas Stuart Coffey, born Dec. 12, 1881 in Watauga Co., NC, was a son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Greer Coffey. It has been suggested that Thomas Stuart was named by his Civil War veteran father in honor of J.E.B. Stuart, famed Confederate cavalry officer and often referred to as "the eyes and ears" of Robert E. Lee.

T. S. Coffey married Josephine Carr Sanborn on Feb. 14, 1912 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC. Josephine was born c1844 in North Carolina and died Dec. 17, 1977 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC. T. S. died Aug. 21, 1970 in Statesville.

Three children were born to the marriage:

Marjorie Elizabeth, born Mar. 28, 1913. She married Phares Vernon Breneman on Jan. 22, 1944 in Statesville. Phares was a son of Daniel and Ella Breneman, and was born Apr. 30, 1906 in Henry, Rush Co., IN. He died May 9, 1976 in Statesville. I have not found any children born to this union. Both married in their 30's and after Phares completed his service in the Army during WW2. He enlisted in the service at Los Angeles, CA on June 17, 1941, just months prior to the Japanese raid of Dec. 7, 1941 on Pearl Harbor.

Thomas Stuart, Jr., born Aug. 1, 1915, died Dec. 16, 1968. He married Mary Stackhouse Macon and was the father of Ann Macon, born Aug. 15, 1946 and Thomas Stuart III, born Jan. 26, 1950. Shortly after the marriage, Thomas, Jr. enlisted in the Army on Jan. 25, 1943 at Fort Bragg, NC. He was described as being 5' 10" tall and weighed 132 lbs.

After returning to Statesville following military service, T. S. Jr. became more active in town and state politics. Numerous articles concerning his life and service in the area can be found in archived copies of The Landmark, a period newspaper of Statesville, NC. One such article, which appeared in the May 17, 1945 edition reads:

S-Sgt Coffey, the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Coffey, 316 East Broad Street, Statesville, is married to the former Miss Mary Macon, Warrenton, North Carolina. A 1935 graduate of Matt Thompson High School, Statesville, he attended the University of North Carolina and was in charge of the Securities division, North Carolina treasury department, Raleigh, before entering the army in January, 1943. Having graduated from engineering school at Greeley, Colorado, he came overseas in June, 1943. Before entering the army, he was an active member of the Raleigh Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Doris Sanborn, born Jan. 19, 1920 in Statesville, died May, 1994 in Statesville. She married Richard Hardin Griggs there on Nov. 7, 1940. Richard was born Sep. 24, 1913 in Gary, McDowell Co., WV and died Jan. 25, 1990 in Statesville. I know of one child, a son, Richard Stuart Griggs, born Apr. 1, 1948.

Additions and/or corrections welcomed.