The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1938-12-01
In Memorium

There is an old house in town tina
looks now just as it did to a littl,
country girl sixty years ago. an,
memory brings back the graciou,
host and hostess, Colonel and Mrs
J. X. Coffee, who presided over thi,
home.
Having no children of their W il
was their joy to have some of theil
nieces and nephews with them all
the time. OF these, one little niece
Fannie Joyce, upon the death of bel
W mother, became as a daughte,
to Uncle" and "Auntie."
Through the years of private and
public schooling it was Mrs. Coffee's
pleasure to have the children of her
own church, the Presbyterian. as
well as some others, to meet with
her on Saturday afternoons and she
would teach them about missions and
play games, but best of all they liked
her to play and sing for them.
OoNS6S uoyS CAME anu FANNIE went
away to school but vacations would
bring the happy group together again.
chool days are over and "Auntie's'
health seems to be failing; no daugh-
ter could have been more loving and
tender than Fannie during the trying
days Of illness. After "Auntie" pass
ed away Fannie became the mistress
of the home and how well, and how
g~raciously she has filled that place
through the years.
A group of girls organized a club
about this time, the c. P. S.. Club,
for mutual pleasure and improve
ment and Fannie was quite active in
plays put on as well as parties given
by this happy group.
Again sorrow came to the house
and Uncle" was laid away close
by "Auntie" and the old house be.
came Fannie's own. Brothers, sis
ters and other relatives shared the
home with her for some years, un-
til she married the man of her choice,
Mr.. Henry Owen, one of Durant's
young merchants.
Early in life Miss Fannie had
united with the Methodist Church in
Durant and was always a devoted
and consistent member, taking an
active part in the old Ladies Aid"
Society and later in the Missionary
Society. She and NJ. Owen were
most faithful in atte..dance Of church
services.
Miss Fannie joined with a group
of earnest women in organizing the
Woman's Club here 80 years ago and
except for the time she was in jack
son, was an active member until her
death. She was present at the last
Anniversary Luncheon. November 20.
She meant much to his club.
Some years ago Miss FANNIE was call
ed to have charge OF the boys dormi-
tory and the dining room at Millsaps
College in jackson. There for ten
years she watched over and cared
for the hundreds Of boys who at
tended the college as though they
were her own.
When Mr.. Owens health failed and
ne had to give up his travelling job
she came home to the old house with
him and was soon to know the CROWN
ing sorrow Of her life; being left
alone.
About this time a nephew, Percy
Joyce, came to live with Aunt Fam
ME" and attend school here and lat
er to college. Miss Fannie loved
little children and the two little boys
of DR.. and Mrs. Rice, who have rooms
in the house, she always spoke Of rs
my little grandchildren"
Miss FNannie's illness was cause for
much anxiety among her relatives
and friends, and her passing away
a shock hard to bear. AS she wished
her body was brought back to the
Methodist Church here, where a short
but impressive service was held by
D. M. Key of Millsaps College facpl-
ty, She was aid to rest by the side
of her husband in the beautiful city
Of the dead. The mound of exqui-
site flowers gave mute testimony of
the owe and esteem of relatives and
friends. We shall miss her. About
three years ago, Mrs. Elizabeth Har-
per, her devoted niece, with whom
Miss Fannie was in business, and her
little daughter, Joyce, came to make
their home with her. Miss Fannie's
brother, Mr.. Dick Joyce and his wife
came early in 1888 to live in her
home. These are left to carry on
the friendliness of the dear old home.
The stately magnolia trees and the
green blinds are gone with the years,
but still in driving by. the dear old
house looks the same as it did sixty
years ago.