Edna Gannell (Ewing) Cofer, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, six days short of age 103. She was born in a small farmhouse on Highpoint Road west of Snellville on March 18, 1921, the first daughter and second child of Thomas Kelly (T. K.) Ewing and Sytha Amanda Brownlee. When she was five years old, she moved with her parents to Atlanta. In 1930 they returned to Gwinnett County to her grandfather’s farm on what is now Webb Gin House Road. She lived the remainder of her life, before entering assisted care, within three miles of where she was born, except for about one year when she accompanied her husband during World War II in the U.S. Army. She began her education in Atlanta, attended Five Forks School and Snellville Consolidated School class of 1938. She married a close neighbor, James Darling Cofer Sr., on December 24, 1938, at age 17.
Cofer
They decided she would assume the classic traditional role of fulltime wife, homemaker, and mother. They had one son and two grandchildren. Edna was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, living members of the Snellville United Methodist Church. She and her husband joined the church in the late 1940’s, so were long time active and supportive members. That was her life until the untimely early death of her husband. She was a widow for almost half her life.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years; her parents; her older brother; Jerrill Hollis Ewing; and by a younger sister, Mildred Wynell (Ewing) Lewis. She is survived by her son, James Darling (Jack) Cofer Jr.; and her daughter-in-law, Teresa; granddaughter, Kelly Amanda (Cofer) Lutz (Brian); grandson James Darling (Jim) Cofer III (Lisa)’ brother Thomas Harvis (Pap) Ewing (Carolyn); sister Melba Faye (Ewing) Robertson; Deloris Ann (Ewing) Wilkinson (Jim); and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service to celebrate the life of Edna Ewing Cofer was held on Monday, March 25, 2024 at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel, Snellville. Burial was at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens. For those who prefer to make a memorial, consider a donation to The Community Church (aka Snellville United Methodist Church) in the memory of Edna Cofer. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service in Snellville was in charge of arrangements.
Follow Us