Eighth Generation

10017. Herbert Mapp Coffey²⁹⁹¹¹ was born on 25 February 1918 in Rockbridge Co., VA. He lived with his mother in South River Dist., Rockbridge Co., VA on 17 April 1940. Herbert died in Virginia in 2003 and was buried at Rockbridge Memorial Gardens in Lexington, Rockbridge Co., VA in 2003 .^29912,29913

Obituary, The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, Thur., Dec. 18, 2003

COFFEY, Herbert Mapp Herbert Mapp Coffey, 85, of Buena Vista, died Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at his home. Mr. Coffey was born on February 25, 1918 in Rockbridge Co. and was one of fourteen children born to the late Lafayette Washington Coffey and Annie Ward Coffey. He was a life long resident of the Mt. View Community of Rockbridge Co. and was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses North Congregation. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Elaine Coffey. Mr. Coffey is survived by his wife of 58 years, Hilda Ogden Coffey of Buena Vista; their children, Marjorie Skidmore of VInton, Wanda Brown of North Wilkesboro, N.C., Stephen Coffey of Glasgow, Gwendolyn Beauchamp of Fincastle, Marshall Coffey of Bloomington, Ind.; fourteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one sister, Catherine Long of Buena Vista. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 20, 2003 at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Rockbridge Area Free Clinic, 25 North Ridge Lane, Lexington, Va. 24450. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Service, Buena Vista.

My grandfather Herbert is the great-great-great grandson of Edmund S. Coffey. He was born 25 Feb. 1918. herbert's early years consisted of farming with horses on the 132-acre homeplace in the South River area of Rockbridge County. At one time they had eight work horses with names such as Doc, Frank, Easter, May, Flora, Spot, Rader, Molly, Stella, Pearl, and Prince. Each year they would sow two fields of 20-23 acres of wheat and two fields of 11-15 acres of corn. Aside from family use most of the crop was sold to Furrs Mill. His family also ran a steam engine saw mill for nearly 20 years, using timber from the homeplace as well as sawing lumber for other people.

Traveling to Buena vista involved harnessing one of the "high stepper" horses to a buggy and Herbert would take his mother to Knights Stote to sell eggs, butter and chickens, in exchange they would by coffee, sugar and sometimes a poke of tobacco.

Visiting family members and friends entertained each other with music such as the banjo; fiddle and constantina [sic] were memorable evenings. Hunting in the fall was also one of Herbert's favorite things. At 15 or 16 his first gun came from Jeff Lowe who ordered it from Sears and Roebuck for about ten dollars and traded it to Herbert's father Lafayette in exchange for building him a washstand. The patent on the 41-model 410-gauge gun is dated 17 August 1920.

In June 1939 at age 21, Herbert, his mother Annie, sister Ruby, John McCabe, and Hiram Dees all attended a convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in New York at Madison Square Gardens. The also attended the World's Fair, which introduced the "television" in April of that year.

Herbert started his building career with Frank Lowe building a house cutting every piece by hand. On 20 February 1945 they moved to their current home. Except for two years (1946-1948) when he worked at James Lees Carpet he continued in the carpentry field until retiring in 1978.

My grandfather and his sister, Catherine, are the only remaining of Fate and Annie's 14 children. Herbert and Helda's children are Marjorie Marie (Skidmore), Wanda Jean (Brown), Stephen Ray, Gwendolyn Leigh (Beauchamp), Herbert Marshal and Sharon Elaine (d. 20 July 1965). My dad, Steve (b. 25 Oct. 1948) lived and worked at the World Headquarters of the Watchtower bible and Tract Society of New York for four years following high school. He married my mom, Sara Elaine Barker, 13 Oct. 1973. He is currently employed as a teacher of Auto Collision Technology at Rockbridge County High School. His daughters are Dakota Blue (b. 7 July 1985) and Sage Montana (b. 2 June 1987). I am 12 years old and in the 7th grade. After school I plan to have a job working with people and money. We live in the Fancy Hill area of Rockbridge Co.

Submitted by Sage Coffey

Herbert Mapp Coffey and Hilda Marie Ogden were married on 21 February 1945 at Church of the Brethren in Rockbridge Co., VA.²⁹⁹¹⁴ Hilda Marie Ogden, daughter of Hugh Oliver Ogden and Myra Jane Ogden, was born on 19 December 1924 in Amherst Co., VA. Hilda died on 2 November 2005 at the age of 80 at home in Buena Vista, Independent City, VA and was buried at Rockbridge Memorial Gardens in Lexington, VA.^29915,29916

Obituary, The Rockbridge Weekly, Nov. 3, 2005

Obituary, The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, Thu., Nov. 3, 2005

Hilda Marie Ogden Coffey

Former Teacher’s Aide Devoted To Family, Children

Hilda Marie Ogden Coffey, 80, of Buena Vista, died peacefully at home with her family at her bedside on Wednesday, November 2, 2005.

Mrs. Coffey was born on December 19, 1924 in Amherst County, a daughter of the late Hugh Ogden and Myra Ogden.

She was a retired teacher’s aide with Rockbridge County Schools. Her life exhibited years of devotion to family, education and children.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon and her husband, Herbert Mapp Coffey.

Mrs. Cofffey is survived by five children: Marjorie Skidmore and husband Mike of Lake Gaston; Wanda Brown and husband David of North Wilkesboro, NC; Stephen Coffey and wife Sara of Glasgow; Gwendolyn Beauchamp and husband Phil of Fincastle; Marshall Coffey and wife Lisa of Bloomington, IN; 15 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren; two sisters: Dorothy Coffey of Buena Vista and Velma Shrawder of Hummels Wharf, PA; one brother, Hugh Ogden, Jr. of Buena Vista and special friend and caregiver, Janet Coleman.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Chapel with Rev. Stan Ogden officiating. Burial will follow in the Rockbridge Memorial Gardens. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Rockbridge Area Hospice, P. O. Box 948, Lexington, VA. 24450. The family will receive friends from 5-7 Friday at the Bolling, Grose & Lotts funeral Service, Buena Vista.

Herbert Mapp Coffey and Hilda Marie Ogden had the following children: