Georgianna Coff
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Georgianna Coff (May 20, 1853 – March 7, 1941) was a formerly enslaved domestic worker in Larimer County, Colorado. At the time of her death, she was Fort Collins' only formerly enslaved resident.
Biography
= Early life =
Georgianna Coff (c. May 20, 1853 – March 7, 1941) was a formerly enslaved person born into slavery in Mississippi. It is unknown who her parents were. Sometime between 1864 and 1865 she was given to John Aleck Lunn's grandmother, Mrs. Thomas Lunn,{{Cite web |title=Mar 27, 1941, page 21 - Springfield Evening Union at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1067377980/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.newspapers.com |language=en}} who lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She came from the Mississippi plantation of Lunn's great-uncle, George Hay. George Hay was the only person on either side of the family that lived in Mississippi. After the 13th Amendment passed, Coff continued to live with the Lunn family and considered herself as a part of the Lunn family. In 1881, Georgianna Coff moved with the Lunns to Colorado.
= Domestic Service =
After the passing of the 13th Amendment, Coff remained with the Lunn family and worked within the domestic service sector. She lived in multiple states where she was the caretaker of many children, being known as "Mammy" to them.{{Cite web |title=Mar 07, 1941, page 2 - Fort Collins Coloradoan at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/588978858/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.newspapers.com |language=en}}
Based on a 1900s Michigan census, Georgianna moved back to Grand Rapids and worked domestic labor. Leaving for Los Angeles, California in 1913, and then Pasadena, Georgianna worked as a domestic servant for the Tuft household in 1920. According to her obituary, she also worked as a maid for Mary A. Welch, the widow of Andrew Lunn.
When the Lunn family needed help, she would return to the family to help.
= Larimer County and Death =
It is documented that Georgianna started receiving care on May 27, 1924, at the Larimer County Hospital "Old folks home". She lived and worked there for 17 years, until her death.{{Cite web |title=Apr 01, 1941, page 16 - Evening World-Herald at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/882402304/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.newspapers.com |language=en}}
Georgianna Coff passed away on March 7, 1941, at the Larimer County "Old Folks" home. Earlier that day, she had been visited by Mrs. Helen MacGregor, who departed approximately an hour before Coff's passing. She was 87 years old and was laid to rest in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.
= After Death =
Two days before Coff's death, a bill from the county home was sent to the welfare department (newspaper clipping archive). S. Walter Brown, an employee at the welfare department and former employee at the First National bank, recognized her name and remembered her having money (newspaper clipping archive). Afterwards, an investigator was sent to the country home to obtain her signature on an instrument that allowed the county to have access to information regarding stocks, postal savings accounts, and other opportunities to discovered investments in her name (newspaper clipping archive).
During the survey, the investigators discovered stocks and a savings account amounting to $8455.42, with a safety deposit box yet to be opened. The discovery of Coff's estate led County Attorney Mortimer Stone to appoint Walter E. Dalby, the county welfare director, as the administrator of Coff's estate. Stone wanted the county to be reimbursed for her 17 years of care at the county home, and Dalby, now acting as the administrator of her estate, could legally distribute Coff's estate amounting to the care amount. The care amount for Coff after 17 years of care amounted to $9,100.
Stone and Dalby also attempted to examine the contents of Coff's safety deposit, but the bank officials refused them entry. Coff's safety deposit was registered under H.M. Balmer, her agent. At the time, Balmer was in Florida which meant that Stone and Dalby had no authorization to examine Coff's safety deposit box without Balmer's permission.
Coff's estate amounted to $10,355.{{Cite web |title=Apr 11, 1941, page 31 - The Call at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1032039606/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.newspapers.com |language=en}}
References
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Further reading
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External links
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Category:American women slaves
Category:People enslaved in Mississippi