Loftin

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LOFTIN
GENEALOGY
LINE

Verdie
Lee
Loftin
(1903 - 1993)

Alonzo
Lester
Loftin
(1876 - 1937)

William Alexander
Loftin
(1851 - 1939)

James
Franklin
Loftin
(1827 - 1864)

Thomas
Loftin
(1798 - 185?)

James
Loftin
(1768 - 1836)

John
Loftin
(1740 - 1793)

Cornelius
Loftin III
(1714 - 1785)

Cornelius
Loftin II
(1675 - 1735)

Cornelius
Loftin I
(1648 - 1735)

Leonard
"Laughton"
Loftin
(1610 - 1678)
_______

Verdie Lee's
Siblings

Nannie
May
Loftin
(1895 - 1982)

Lillie
Stamey
Loftin
(1897 - 1988)

Roy
Henry
Loftin
(1899 - 1972)

Floye
Hovis
Loftin
(1901 - 1973)

FAMILY
NAMES

LOFTIN:
 Beatty
 Corzine
 Cranford
 Fisher
 Givens
 Harwell
 Kaiser
 Lanier
 Lomax
 McCorkle
 Rudisill
 Sherrill
 Upright
 Washington
 Work

SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon

GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson

JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson

LINKS

Additional
Family
SURNAMES

Genealogy
HUMOR

PHOTO
LINKS

The
"ROYAL"
Lineage

Slavery

 

Verdie Lee Loftin     Born: 07 Sep 1903, Catawba County, NC Died:  06 Mar 1993, Catawba County, NC                                 Verdie Lee Loftin was the fifth child born to Alonzo Lester Loftin and Cornelia Estelle Lowrance. Verdie Lee was born 07 Sep 1903 in Catawba County, NC.  On 11 Feb 1904 her mother, Cornelia, died from pneumonia.  Verdie Lee's maternal Grandmother, Sarah Josephine Bost Lowarance, had just died on 02 Feb 1904.                   Alonzo couldn't raise five small children, run the family farm, and work, too The children were so young.  Nannie was 8, Lillie 6, Roy 4, Floye 2 1/2 and Verdie Lee was 6-months-old.  The decision was made to send the children away to live at an orphanage until he could bring them back home and care for them.                                 Verdie Lee's son, Russell Boggs, said that after Cornelia's death, Verdie Lee was sent to live with her grandmother Sarah Lowrance, but unfortunately Sarah also died that same month.         Alonzo's parents, William Alexander "Alec" Loftin and Laura Cranford, decided to take "the baby", Verdie Lee.  Alex was 53 at the time and Laura was 49.  Several of their own children were still living at home, including Zettie, Garland, Pearl and Cordie.   In November 1904, Alonzo married Ida Lillian Setzer, 9 months after Cornelia's death.                               According to the 1910 Catawba County Census, Alonzo and Ida had three children, Charlie, Theodore and Sadie.  Lillie, Roy and Floye were also living with them.  Nannie was still living at the orphanage.  Verdie Lee continued to live with Alec and Laura.                               According to Verdie Lee's son, Russell Boggs, when she was 9-years-old Verdie Lee went to Gastonia to live with Lillie and Nannie.   1920 Gastonia City Census   Last Name First Name Relation Sex Race Age S/M/W Can Read Can Write Born Occupation Occupation Martin Wade V. Head M W 25 M Yes Yes NC Manager Battery Repair Shop ------ Nannie M. Wife F W 24 M Yes Yes NC None   ------ Cornelia L. Daughter F W 4 S     NC None   Loftin Lillie S. Sister-In-Law F W 22 S Yes Yes NC Operator Telephone Office ------ Floye H. Sister-In-Law F W 18 S Yes Yes NC Operator Telephone Office ------ Verdie Lee Sister-In-Law F W 16 S Yes Yes NC Knitter Hosiery Mill   The 1920 Gastonia City Census shows Verdie Lee, Lillie and Floye living with Nannie and Wade Martin.  Verdie Lee's age was 16 and she was working as a knitter at a Hosiery Mill.                               Verdie Lee only completed 10th grade, but she had a great interest in geography and history.                                                              On 14 Jan 1921, at the age of 17, Verdie Lee married Fitzhugh Boggs.  At the age of 18, Verdie Lee and Fitzhugh were living in the home of an elderly Mrs. Kale in Catawba.  Mrs. Kale had told them, "If you'll stay with me, this house will be yours when I die."  Several years later, however, an unfortunate house fire burned Mrs. Kales home.  It was eventually rebuilt, but Verdie Lee and Fitzhugh had moved in with his parents, Alexander & Celia Boggs, on Boggs Rd. in Claremont.  They continued to visit Mrs. Kale as if she were family.       Verdie Lee and Fitzhuch eventually built their own house in Claremont. (Left) Verdie Lee and Fitzhugh (Below) Verdie Lee in the snow     Children of Verdie Lee Loftin and Fitzhugh Boggs Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse Parlier Cornelia Boggs 19 Oct 1922 12 Oct 1924   James Russell Boggs 18 Nov 1923 22 Jul 2010 Mary Olivia Cloninger William "Billy" Bruce Boggs 05 May 1929 31 Dec 2005 Edith Caroline Harrison Walter Roy Boggs 22 Jul 1933 29 Dec 2006 (1) Joan Coulter (2) Norma Cline (3) Ruth Shook     (Left) Verdie Lee and Parlier (Right) Fitzhugh       First born, Parlier, only lived for two years.  She died 12 Oct 1924 and is buried at Catawba United Methodist Church.                                   Verdie Lee gathers with her siblings for step-mother Ida's yearly birthday dinner (Left to Right) Elma, Theodore/Speedo, Charlie, Thelma, Frances, Roy, Ida, Sadie, Verdie Lee, Lillie, Mike and Nannie     (Left to Right) Sadie, Frances, Verdie Lee, Allie, Ida, Oscar, Nannie, Mike, Thelma and Elma       Verdie Lee and Fitzhugh loved flowers and she loved garden parties.  They decided to move to Newton and open Boggs' Florist.  It was around that time that Fitzhugh was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He died 6-weeks later on 25 Mar 1949.     Verdie Lee was "seeing" Dewey Lanier in 1954 prior to Dewey's marriage to Verdie Lee's sister, Thelma     Verdie Lee     The Boggs home and florist was located on 409 W. C Street in Newton (Hwy 10)     Verdie Lee continued to run Boggs' Florist at a time when it was difficult for a woman to own and run a business - and she did it well.   Verdie Lee (left)                                   Sometime later, Verdie Lee called her son Russell and told him that she had been seeing a family friend, Ralph Copeny, and that he has asked her to marry him.  She asked Russell what he thought.  He told her that she was a still a young woman - that she should go for it.   Verdie Lee and Ralph were only married 5 - 7 years before his death.  She never took the Copeny last name during her marriage. A few years later she called Russell again and told him she was considering marriage again.  Verdie Lee married Harold Yount.  They were only married for five years before his death from cancer. (Right) Harold Yount in 1972 After Harold's death, Verdie Lee decided to spend the rest of her days alone.                                                             Verdie Lee was a hard working woman with high ideals - a beautiful lady.       The family gathers to celebrate Verdie Lee's 80th birthday Verdie Lee with sons (left to right) Roy, Russell, and Bill     Verdie Lee with some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (Left to Right) Kevin, Carol, David, Verdie Lee, Darlene & Ashley, Leah & Shannon                                 Verdie Lee (right) with sister-in-law Mae Loftin (left), Mae's son-in-law and daughter Eddie & Yvonne Bryson (top center) and sister Lillie Loftin (middle)                                 Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs died 06 Mar 1993 at the age of 89.  She and Fitzhugh are buried at Catawba United Methodist Church near their daughter Parliear.  Their son William Boggs is also buried near them.                                                                                                          Children     James Russell Boggs   James Russell Boggs was the second child born to Fitzhugh and Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs. Russell was born 18 Nov 1923. He married Mary Olivia Cloninger.   Marriage Announcement for James Russell Boggs and Mary Olivia Cloninger       (Below) Russell & Mary Boggs with their children, Terry Kristan Boggs and Olivia Russell Boggs     James Russell Boggs Catawba County Heritage, p. 59, by Mary Olivia Cloninger Boggs   James Russell Boggs was born 18 Nov 1923 in Catawba (Catawba Co.), North Carolina, the son of Fitzhugh (11 Mar 1899 - 25 Mar 1949) and Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs (07 Sep 1903 - 06 Mar 1993) of Claremont, NC.  Russell's sister was Parlier Cornellia Boggs who died in infancy and is buried in Catawba Cemetery, as is her father.  Russell's brothers are: William "Bill" Bruce Boggs who lives in Collinsville, VA; Walter Roy Boggs who lives in Newton, NC.   The grandparents, now deceased, of Russell Boggs; Alexander Caldwell Boggs and Cecelia Uriah Sigmon; Alonzo Lester Loftin and Cornelia Estelle Lowrarce.   Russell's mother, a Methodist, joined Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Claremont, with her husband.  In this church, Russell was confirmed 17 Apr 1938 by R. Bruce Sigmon, Pastor.   After graduation from Claremont High School, Claremont; Lenoir Rhyne College, B.A., 1944; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, SC, B.D., 1946.  He served Lutheran parishes in Liberty, NC; Leesville, SC; Montgomery, AL.   Going on active duty with the US Army, 1957, Russell served as military chaplain, advancing through grades to Colonel, 1972.  His overseas' assignments were: Kitzingen, Germany, 1958-61; Vietnam, 1963; Okinawa, Japan, 1969-72; Command Chaplain, US Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany, 1975-77.  Military awards include: Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; the Bronze Star Medal ; the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Legion of Merit.  (He was officially known as James R. Boggs while in the service of his country).   The Board of Trustees of Lenoir Rhyne College recognized "your distinguished accomplishments and service to your fellow man by presenting to you a Distinguished Service Citation," presenting this citation to him during graduation exercises, 1975.   Following his retirement from the military, Russell served as Director of Religion and Chaplain to the Corps of Cadets, The Citadel, Charleston, SC, where he served until 1980 when he was called to become the Director of Church Relations at Newberry College, a Lutheran school in South Carolina.  At the present time he is Director of Church Relations and Planned Giving.   James Russell Boggs is married to Mary Olivia Cloninger of Claremont, the youngest child of Henry Alfred Cloninger and Julia Estelle Busbee.  She was born 24 Sep 1923 in Claremont, and was baptized 19 Dec 1923 in St. Mark's, her parents as sponsors.  She was confirmed in September 1937, St. Mark's, Claremont.  Russell was confirmed 17 Apr 1938, Mt. Calvary Luther Church, Claremont.  Russell and Mary began first grade in Claremont Elementary Grade the same year and continued on through high school, graduating in 1944.  Mary attended Lenoir Rhyne and worked as: bookkeeper, secretary, medical dictation transcriber.   Russell and Mary are the parents of two children: (1) Olivia Russell Boggs, born 12 Jan 1946, who is married to James Alexander Boon; They have two daughters - Catherine Olivia and Jessica Alexia - and live in Ithaca, NY, where James Boon is a professor of anthropology at Cornell, (2) Terry Kristan Boggs, born 16 Nov 1947, is married to Marcia Lou Van Gundy.  They have a son, Kristan Van Gundy and a daughter Ashley Olivia Van Gundy.  Terry is a pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Fort Worth, TX.   While Russell has been working for Newberry College, Mary has been researching her ancestry.  In December 1981 she completed "The Indubitable Busbees and Their Kin", a 483-page book dedicated to her mother, Julia Estelle Busbee.  At the present time, she, with the aid of her brother, Carlisle, is compiling material for a book on her father, Henry Alfred Cloninger.   Russell and Mary have many memories of the wonderful people they have met in many places, following their marriage 27 Dec 1943 in St. Mark's Church, Claremont.  They feel, however, richly blessed to have been reared in Catawba County where they knew the love of parents, grandparents, other relatives, and enjoyed knowing so many of the residents of Catawba County, North Carolina.   James Russell Boggs died Thursday, 22 Jul 2010, in Ft. Worth, TX, at the age of 86.   SOURCES: Church records - Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church; St. Mark's Luther Church, US Military Records, Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs Yount, Mary Olivia Cloninger Boggs.     William "Billy" Bruce Boggs   William "Billy" Bruce Boggs was the Third child born to Fizhugh and Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs Copeny Yount. He was born 05 May 1929. He married Edith Caroline Harrison. Billy died 31 Dec 2005.     Walter Roy Boggs   Walter Roy Boggs was the fourth child born to Fizhugh and Verdie Lee Loftin Boggs Copeny Yount. He was born 22 Jul 1933. Roy married, (1) Joan Coulter, (2) Norma Cline and (3) Ruth Shook. He died 29 Dec 2006.   Roy Boggs in 1966                                                                                                    SOURCES         If you have additional information or photos of Verdie Lee & Fitzhugh, please contact me.   A special thanks to Russell Boggs for additional information about his mother. A special thanks to Leah and Kevin Boggs for additional photos of the Verdie Lee and the Boggs family