Ninth Generation

18303. Velma Mae Coffey was born on 16 December 1921 in Avery Co., NC.⁴⁵²⁹⁷ She lived with her maternal granmother Etta Hayes Coffey in Wilson Creek Twp., Avery Co., NC on 2 April 1930. Velma died on 11 October 2008 at the age of 86 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC and was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC.⁴⁵²⁹⁸

Obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Oct. 14, 2008

Velma Adkins

Velma Coffey Adkins, 86, of College Ave. NW, Lenoir, died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 at the residence.

She was born Dec. 16, 1921 in Avery County to the late Ivey W. Coffey and Exie Mae C. Coffey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, William James Gragg; two daughters, Mrs. Joann Gragg Bentley and Ms. Exie Jewel Gragg, one sister, Ms. Opal Coffey; one brother, Odell Coffey and one granddaughter, Kim Bentley.

Mrs. Adkins was retired from Blue Bell as a seamstress and a member of Worship Point Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Ms. Olesteen Gragg Harmon of Lenoir; two sisters, Mrs. Janet Ingram of Lenoir and Mrs. Betty Pope of Lenoir, eight grandchildren, Lisa Bentley, Terri Meadlock, Kellie Palmer, Heidi Icenhour and Rick Woods, all of Lenoir, Jay Edward Bentley of Granite Falls, Michael Bentley of Bethlehem and Allen Bentley of Germany; 12 great-grandchildren; and her special friend and caregiver Kathy Wagoner.

Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 at Worship Point Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Randy Gibson. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Rick Meadlock, Tommy Ingram, Rick Woods, Michael Bentley, Tony Barnett and Edgar Coffey.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Worship Point Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2939, Lenoir NC 28645 or Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir NC 28645.

Velma Mae Coffey and Joseph Alexander Gragg were married on 13 May 1939 in Carter Co., TN.⁴⁵²⁹⁹ Joseph Alexander Gragg was born on 1 October 1921 in North Carolina. He lived with her father and step-mother in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co., NC on 15 April 1940. Joseph died in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC on 1 April 1967 and was buried at Worship Point Church Cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC in April 1967 .⁴⁵³⁰⁰

Velma Mae Coffey and Joseph Alexander Gragg had the following children:

+21736	i.	Olesteen Gragg.
+21737	ii.	Joanne Gragg.
21738	iii.	Exie Jewel Gragg was born on 13 March 1944 in Lenoir Co., NC. Exie died in Lenoir Co., NC on 14 March 1944 and was buried at Cary Flat Cemetery in Gragg, Avery Co., NC on 15 March 1944 .