Obituary of Joffre Lanning Coe, II

Joffre Lanning Coe II, better known to many simply as “Joff,” passed away peacefully at his home on July 18. He was born June 11, 1947 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He was a uniquely gifted and generous man of many talents, skills, and interests. He will be missed greatly by his family and friends.

Joff was a true renaissance man. A 1965 graduate of Chapel Hill High School, he was a US Army combat veteran who served from 1966 to 1969 with the 1st Signal Brigade, initially in Germany, then attached to the 25th Infantry Division based in Cu Chi, Vietnam, including during its defense during the January 1968 Tet Offensive. He was a musician, a luthier, a recording and sound engineer, a philatelist, a Chapel Hill police officer, a 911 dispatcher, a builder, a commercial fisherman, and a son of two legendary souls, the late UNC archaeologist Dr. Joffre Lanning Coe and Sally Denton Coe. His wife of many years, Jolene Chapman “Jo” Coe, and their son, Joffre L. “Jay” Coe III, preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother Damon Denton Coe, his grandson Joffre L. “Jake” Coe IV, his nephew Damon Denton Coe II, his niece Jennifer Lyn Coe McLaurin, and his later-in-life companion and soul mate, Debby Stirling.

A gathering of celebration and remembrance will take place Friday July 26 at 2:00 pm at Walkers Funeral Home, 304 West Center Street, Mebane, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joff’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.walkersfuneralservice.com

Walker's Funeral Home, Mebane Chapel is serving the family.