Thomas Henry "Tom" & Ethel Marie Nichols Coffey

Tom & Ethel w/grandchild
who donated the photograph

Thomas Henry "Tom" Coffey was the first son and fourth of nine children born to Robert Finley and Crettie May Ritch* Coffey.  Robert was a son of Thomas Hall and Cora Ellen Tolbert Coffey and, Crettie was the daughter of James Henry and Candace Genelie [sic] Chester Ritch.

Tom was born Sep. 2, 1925 in Yadkin Valley and died in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., on Aug. 28, 1999.

Ethel was born May 4, 1927 in North Carolina to Lennie Lee and Henrietta "Ettie" Curtis Nichols.  Ethel died May 26, 2004 at Granite Falls.  Both she and Tom are buried at the Robert Coffey Cemetery** [35.95201,-81.60796] near Lenoir.

Tom and Ethel were married Oct. 27, 1945 in Caldwell Co.***


Ethel's obituary:

Ethel Marie Nicholas [sic] Coffey, 77, of Melrose Street, Lenoir, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at Camelot Manor Nursing Home.

She was born May 4, 1927 in Bath Co., Va. to the late Rev. Lenny Lee Nichols and Henrietta Curtis Nichols. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Henry Coffey; a brother, Richard Nichols and a sister, Lucy Summerow.

Mrs. Coffey retired from Bernhardt #7 and was a member of Mt. View Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Tommy Carroll Coffey of Hudson; a daughter-in-law, Deana Coffey of Hudson; daughter and son-in-law, Brenda Marie Fox and husband Tommy of Maiden; three brothers, Eddie Nichols and George Nichols both of Lenoir and Clarence Nichols of Granite Falls; a sister, Joncie Swearingin of Lenoir and three grandchildren, Marty and Amy Coffey and Robbie Fox.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 29, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Pendry's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J.B. Crouse and Rev. Jeff Hoyle officiating. Burial will be at Coffey Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends today, May 28, 2004 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Pendry's Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or online condolences may be made at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.

Pendry's Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas' siblings and their spouses were:

Mary Belle, 1920-2012, married Lennie Edward Nichols c1943
Unnamed infant female, born/died Feb. 19, 1922
Beulah Evelyn, 1923-2009, married George Wesley Nichols, May 9, 1942
Jay Finley, 1927-2012, married Gertrude Clark, Dec. 24, 1948
Lillie May, 1930-?, married James Monroe Greene, 1930-1994
Lena Faye, 1932-?, married Homer Colfax Clark, 1927-2001.  Homer's first wife was Frances Louise Minton (1931-1991).  Faye's first husband was Joseph Cicero Greene (1928-1999).  They were married in 1948.
Beadie Oden, 1934-?, married Ralph Clark
Robert Claude, 1936-?, married Annie Ruth Watson, 1937-?

Corrections and/or additions welcomed.

Jack

---

*Surname sometimes spelled Rich
**Directions to this cemetery were described in June of 2012 by Bradley Ingells:  From Hwy 90 (Collettsville Road), take Mulberry Creek Road at Mount Olivet Methodist Church. Go to top of the hill (just after 2032 Mulberry Creek Road) and turn right on Robert's Place (dirt road). Go all the way to the end of the road (you will go past a small cemetery in the woods on the left [Philyaw Cemetery]). Keep going to the end, cemetery is on the left in an open area. Well maintained.  To locate, cut and paste coordinates into google maps.
***"North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXTH-4FL : accessed 05 Nov 2012), Thomas Coffey and Ethel Nichols, 1945.

Columbus Iverson Philyaw

Columbus, born Aug, 16, 1867 in Caldwell Co., NC, was a son of Gideon and Martha M. Teague Philyaw.

According to North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979, Columbus married Hanna J. Vance on Aug. 2, 1888 in Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co., NC.  That record names her parents as Wesley and Elizabeth Vance.

Hannah was born in Jul., 1873 in NC and died May 5, 1915 in Collettsville, Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co.  She died on May 4, 1915 in Globe Twp. and, her death certificate names her parents as John Hicks, a native of Tow River Twp. in Avery Co., and Betty Vance, a native of Mitchell Co., NC.

The part about her parents is a bit confusing to me.  Those who know which is accurate are invited to contact me.

There were at least 11 children born to this couple, a few of whom married into the Coffey family:

Edward W, born Apr., 1891, married Etta Baker on Nov. 28, 1920 at Mortimer, Wilson Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.  They were in the 1930 census at Mortimer and there were no children in the household.  Death records have not been found.

Martha Elizabeth, born Jan., 1893, married John S. Crisp on Aug. 4, 1912 in Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co. John was born Jul. 4, 1888 in NC and died in John River Twp. on Nov. 7, 1936.  I have not found another marriage record or a death record for Martha.  They had at least six children:  Loucile [sic]; Joseph; Morris; Forest Columbus; Jewel; and John Vernon.  John is buried at the Crisp Family Cemetery at Collettsville.  Martha is probably there as well but I have found no record of her death.

Margaret A. "Maggie," born May 1895 in Caldwell Co., died there in Feb., 1977.  She married William Pope on Dec. 18, 1914 in Globe Twp.  Their children were at least five:  May E.; Fred W.; Arlie T.; Hannah; and Wayne G.  Margaret is buried at Rocky Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Collettsville.  William is probably buried there as well but I have found no record of his death.

Gideon Fred, born Sep. 20, 1897 in Caldwell Co., died in Morganton, Burke Co. on Nov. 24, 1970.  He married Ida Jane Coffey, a daughter of Finley Carroll and Connie Rebecca Tolbert.  Ida was born in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 6, 1902 and died Nov. 16, 1972 in Valdese, Burke Co.  Their children were at least six:  Leona Mae; Connie; Louise; Lucille; Noma [sic]; and Ransom (?).  Gideon and Ida are buried at the Tolbert Family Cemetery in Mortimer.

Daniel Wesley, born Dec. 21, 1899, died in Lenoir on Jan. 22, 1981.  He married Emma Rich on Nov. 21, 1920 in Wilson Creek Twp., she the daughter of John Robert and Sarah Cordelia Taylor Rich, and born c1905.  Her death record has not been found.  His burial place is not known to me.  Their children were at least four:  Lois, Edith, Coleen and Margaret.

Oscar R., born c1903.  No other information.

Rooney N. was the name of the child who occupied this place in the birth order in 1910.  She was age 5.  In  1920 her name appears to be Veller, and in 1930 her name was Velma.  Velma is said to have married Arvil Harden Coffey but, I have not found a marriage record.  She died on Apr. 20, 1993 in Caldwell Co., and was buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  Arvil, born Jul. 12, 1914 to George Wiley and Ida Belle Norman Coffey, died Aug. 25, 1987 and is also at White Springs.  I have not located them in the 1930 census and have no children for them.

Dewey George, born Feb. 10, 1907, probably in Caldwell Co., married Lucy Mae Coffey, sister to Ida Jane who married Dewey's brother Gideon.  They were married on Jun. 19,1828 in Lenoir and had at least three children:  Claude Wilson; Ma Gene and Sherl [sic] Allen.  Dewey died Apr., 1980 and Lucy on Mar. 23, 1985 in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC.  Dewey is buried at the Tolbert Family Cemetery in Upton, Caldwell Co.  Lucy is probably there as well.

Arley A., born c1909.  No other information.  I wonder if his name was Early or Orlie?

Torrance Iverson, born 1911, died Dec. 24, 1966 at Black Mountain in Buncombe Co.  He married Cora Lee Shoe, daughter of Mansfield Hoover and Hattie Mae Belle Shoe.  She was born Oct. 25, 1920 in NC and tied in Newton, Catawba Co. on Oct. 15, 2011.  Both are buried at Rocky Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Collettsville.  I have no children for them.

The last child known to me to be born to Columbus and Hannah was Irene, c1914.  She married Ira Roosevelt Bristol, a son of James Greenberry "Jim" and Elsie Jane Bell(e), on Oct. 30, 1934 in Caldwell Co.  Ira was born May 11, 1911 in NC and died in Valdese on Feb. 22, 1969.  He is buried at the Bristol Family Cemetery at Collettsville.  Irene died on Nov. 4, 2002 in Blowing Rock and is probably also buried at the family cemetery.

In just a few days the 1940 census will available and I will hopefully, be able to expand my research on all of the NC Coffey and allied families.

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born Mar. 3, 1873 in Wilkes Co., NC to F.D. and Mary M. Wellborn.  The 1880 census locates F.D. and Mary in Lewis Fork Twp., Wilkes Co. with two Wellborn children and three Tulbert [or, Tolbert] step-children.

Carrie Elizabeth Coffey was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC to Thomas and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey.  Thomas was a son of William Coffey, Jr., and Margaret Robbins; Rachel was a daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.  William was a nephew as well as a first cousin once removed to McCaleb.

Caldwell Co. marriage book 11, page 245 records the union of Carrie and Joseph in that place in 1896.  According to the 1900 Patterson Twp. Caldwell Co. census, Carrie was mother to three children, two of which had died in infancy.  Their first child to reach adulthood was Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900.

In 1910, the family was found in Chase, Mecklenburg Co., VA where Joseph was farming.  However, by 1917 Joseph was confined to Long's Sanitorium in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC where according to his death certificate he died from cirhosis of the liver on Oct. 11, 1917.  He was buried on Oct 13, 1917 in Patterson Twp.  The death certificate is not specific on burial location.

Carrie remained a widow in Patterson Twp. for the rest of her life, and died there from uremia on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  Joseph is likely buried there as well.

Their children were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  She married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in that county in 1920.  Thomas was a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins.  He was born on Oct. 17, 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co.  Thomas is buried at Harpers Chapel and, Jennie is also presumed to be buried there.  They had at least four children:  Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug, 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  He married Lula Bell Hamby in Caldwell Co. in 1921.  She was born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC and died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir.  Lula is buried at Harpers Chapel, and Carl is probably buried there as well.  Their five known children were:  Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and a daughter who was stillborn on Mar. 31, 1932.  Death of the child was attributed to hydrocephalus and spina bifida.

Alma M., born c1904

Annie L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990.  It is unknown whether or not he married and fathered children.

Carrie was the sixth child.  She was born Sep. 13, 1910 and died Feb. 28, 1985.  She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, a son of Newton and Alice Holshouser Edmisten.  Hugh was born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., and died in Lenoir on Aug. 16, 1963.  Hugh is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir, and Carrie is also thought to have been buried there.

Joseph Dale, born Mar. 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004.  Blanche first married William Lee Martin, a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin.  He was born on Dec. 23, 1913 in NC and died in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., on Aug. 4, 1966.  He is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.  Carrie's second husband was H.C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information.  It appears that Blanche did not have children by either husband, but I am not sure of that.  She is also buried at Wilson Memorial Park.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you would like to add to or correct any of this information.

Thomas Hall Coffey

Thomas Hall Coffey was the son of John Caroll and Nancy Evalyn Hartley Coffey and, the older brother of Joel Partee Coffey who was the father of Virgie Evaline, subject of a previous blog.

Thomas, born Jul. 25, 1879, married Cora Ellen Tolbert, the sister of Joel's wife, Lillie Mamie Pearl Tolbert on Jan. 15, 1899 in Caldwell Co. Cora was born Jan. 1, 1875 and died Jan. 28, 1952. Thomas died in Caldwell Co. in 1961.

When he registered for the draft 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 years, born Jul. 25, 1879 and, was was a self-employed farmer in Globe Twp. He named Cora Coffey of Globe as his nearest relative and, signed the registration card with his mark.

Their children were:

Nancy R., born Aug., 1899 - no further information

Martha Eveline, born Nov. 1, 1900 - no further information

Robert Finley, born c1902, married Crettie May Rich.

Their children were:

Beulah Evelyn, born Aug. 22, 1923
Thomas Henry, born 1925, died 1999
Lena Faye, born May 26, 1932
Beadie Oden, born Fe.b 27, 1934
Robert Claude, born 1936.

Wesley Partee, born Nov. 19, 1903, died Feb. 13, 1983 in Caldwell Co. He married Alice Mae (Allie) Philyaw, daughter of Pinkney David and Mary Lillie Phillips Philyaw, in 1923 in Caldwell Co.

Their children were:

William Thomas, born Jan. 22, 1925, married Ruby Lee Dellinger, born Jun. 4, 1933 in Caldwell Co. She was the daughter of Rev. Oscar and Annie Mae Crisp Dellinger. In addition to William, Ruby was also married to Lewis A. Craig (1969) and, to Albert Wesley, another son of Wesley and Alice.

The second child of Wesley and Alice was stillborn and unnamed, born and died in 1926. Third was Albert Wesley, born Aug. 7, 1927, died May 21, 1950; Ira Edwin, born Dec. 15, 1929, died Jun. 12, 1993; Cora Lee; Claude; and Carrie.

Hattie Belle, born Sep., 13 1907, married Robert B. Crump in 1928.

Their children were:

Rosa Lea, born Oct. 23, 1929
James Howard (Doug), born Mar. 24, 1932, died Apr. 18, 1992.

Mary C., born c1909 - no further information

Lester Claude, born Oct. 19, 1911, died Sep., 1983. He married Alice Elizabeth Philyaw, a daughter of Lawrence and Martha Ann Bean Philyaw.

Their children were:

Rachel, who married James Lo Philyaw in 1955
Jewel Katherine, born Dec., 1938, married Lawrence Abernathy in 1983
Mary Alice, born c1940
unnamed child, born c1940
Mary Ellen, born Nov. 30, 1943, married in 1961 to James Orel Philyaw
Clarence J., born 1945, married in 1964 to Peggy Ann Setzer
Etta Mae, born Nov. 7, 1948, married Raymond Steve Hamby
Cloyd Dale, born Mar. 20, 1952, married in 1971 to 1)Karen Elizabeth Suddreth, 2) Rosa Lee Garrett, and 3) Phyllis Angela Mitchell
Linda Fay, born Feb. 4, 1958, married Barry Eugene Triplett.

Sallie Minerva, born Dec. 26, 1913, died May 31, 1999. She married Charlie Franklin Bradshaw. They were the parents of at least three children:

Frank Garland
Gordon Ransom
Agnes Loree

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me at the above e-mail address.

Virgie Evaline Coffey

Virgie was born Jun. 14, 1915 in Caldwell Co., NC to Joel Partee and Lillie Mamie Pearl Tolbert. Joel was the son of John Caroll and Nancy Evalyn Hartley Coffey and, Lillie was the daughter of Edward Alexander Tolbert and Martha Mahalia Smith.

Virgie first married Collis Monroe Sumlin, who was born Jul. 2, 1899 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Apr. 27, 1960. I have not found a marriage date for them. However, the first of their six children was born in March, 1932 making it likely they married c1930.

All of their children seem to have been born in Caldwell Co. Two sons, Monroe and Roy, are mentioned in her obituary and whose birth place and dates have not been found.

This is what I have found on their children:

Ira Dallas, born Mar. 4, 1932, married Ethel Elizabeth Foster, born Aug. 8, 1930, daughter of Charles and Flossie Hudson Foster. Ira and Ethel had at least two children: Paul and Betty.

Tracy Glenn, born Aug. 16, 1934, died Aug. 3, 2007 in Hudson, Caldwell Co. He married Ruby Alice Davis and they were the parents of at least one child, Glenn Dennis.

Monroe married Marline Oliver and, they were the parents of at least one child, Charles David.

Vergie Mary Lee, born 1939, married Charlie Dewey Arnett. They had at least two children, Lorrena Lee and Marty Lane.

Mildred Elizabeth, born 1941, married Henry William Pitts, born Nov. 2, 1937. They were the parents of at least five children: Treva Jean, Debra Anne, Rebecca Lea, Janice Kay, and Betty Sue. I have not yet found a death record for Henry or a marriage record for Mildred's later marriage to the Mr. Wright mentioned in Virgie's obituary.

Roy married Lona Dare Oliver and had at least five children: Melinda Denise, Anthony, Joseph Dwayne, Amanda Ione and Hugh Rex.

Virgie died Feb. 28, 1998 in Caldwell Co., and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Lenoir.

Her obituary:

Vergie Sumlin Carpenter, 82, of Gateway Nursing Center, Lenoir, Died Saturday, Feb. 28, 1998, at the center.

She was born June 4, 1915, in Caldwell County to the late Partee Coffey and Pearl Tolbert Coffey. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Collis Monroe Sumlin; her second husband, Spurgeon Carpenter; and one son, Monroe Sumlin.

Mrs. Carpenter was a homemaker.

Survivors include three sons, Ira Sumlin and Tracy Sumlin, both of Lenoir, and Roy Sumlin of Spruce Pine; two daughters, Virgie Arnett of Banner Elk and Mildred Wright of Granite Falls; five stepdaughters, Blanche Huffman, Grace Lowman, Ruby Sigmon, ruth Hollar and Rita Franklin, all of Valdese; 24 grandchildren; 11 step grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 14 step great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 2 p.m. today at Joyceton Baptist Church with the Revs. Ed. Ford, Bill Dyson and Herman Tester officiating. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the funeral. Burial will be in Mt. View Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Allen Sumlin, Dennis Sumlin, Kelly Arnett, Paul Sumlin, Joe Sumlin and Buddy Detter. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Arnett and Brian Smith.

Virgie's second marriage was to Spurgeon Carpenter. I do not believe there were any children born to this union.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address with additions and/or corrections.