Frances S Coffee

Frances Sue Coffey, 90, of Smyrna Georgia passed away in the early hours of Tuesday January 10, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents William Clinton and Elsie Olean Davidson and her husband of 63 years Robert Lewis Coffey. Born on December 23, 1926 she spent her early years in Hixson, Tennessee. Upon the death of her mother in June 1937, she and her older sister Dorothy were raised by their maternal Uncle and Aunt, Joe and Carrie Smith in Red Bank.

After graduating from Red Bank High School she attended the University of Chattanooga where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in music. It was during this period that in an effort to defray the cost of her education she took a job with the Government in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It wasn’t until after the war that she became aware that her contribution to the war effort was working on the Manhattan Project. It was also around this time that she met another student at UC who would shortly become her husband. She and Robert Coffey were married on July 23, 1948.

After several moves throughout the Southeast, they settled in Marietta, Georgia to raise a family. Her religious convictions were formed at a very young age and very well known. All of her children were raised in church with the entire family attending on weekly basis. Her involvement with the church was not only in attending services, but also singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, playing the piano when asked, and teaching Kindergarten during the week. When the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta joined the Presbyterian Church USA, she and Bob, along with a handful of others, left and founded Faith ARP Church in Austell Ga. In this new church she continued her involvement with the ministry.

She is survived by her children, Dorothy Coffey Hoeschen ( Harold) of Riegelsville, Pa; Martha Jean Barrett (Stephen); Edward Parker Coffey (Debbie) and Robert Lynn Coffey (Karen) all of Powder Springs, Ga., 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be this Saturday, January 14, at West Cobb Funeral Home, 2480 Macland Rd, Marietta, GA 30064 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am followed by Interment at Cheatham Hill Memorial Park beginning at 11:30 am.

There will also be a Celebration of Life service held at Faith ARP Church.
4850 Sweetwater Valley Road, Austell, Ga 30106 at 2:00 pm.

The family ask that in lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.