Mrs Cozie Mae Frances Andrews Shoffner Simmons

Cozie Mae Frances Andrews Shoffner Simmons was born September 5, 1928 in Alamance County, NC to the late Oliver L. Andrews and Mamie E. Coltrane Garner Andrews.   She attended school in Alamance County and was one of the first to be taught in the school which was built here in the Oak Grove Community by a group of our ancestors.    In 1946, she married the late Russell Lee Shoffner and from this union, 11 children were born.  She was preceded in death by her loving husband Russel Lee Shoffner in 1985.    After many years she met the late Bishop Abraham Simmons and they were married until his death in 2005.

 Mother Cozie leaves a legacy of devotion and praise to almighty God.  She had an insurmountable faith and belief in the power of God.  She lived to serve the Almighty and her fellow man and no matter which church she attended; she was ready to offer up a song of praise.  She was co-founder of True Gospel Holiness Church in Liberty, NC.

Born in rural Alamance County before the Great Depression in extremely humble beginnings, Cozie raised a successful family; investing her time, wisdom, labor, money, and land to ensure success for generations to follow.  She was the lead singer of her group known as The Andrews Sisters accompanied by the late George Coltrane, guitarist.  Mama Cozie had an appreciation and a true eye for beautiful clothing and unsurpassed adoration for beautiful hats whenever she attended church.    She could wear any color, style or design and look fabulous.   She could wear hats better than anyone.  Now, as she enters heaven’s door, her beautiful hats are replaced with The Crown of Glory. 

  She was preceded in death by 2 sons, Frederick D. Shoffner and Rodney Shoffner; two sisters, Gracie L. Fox Smith and Clarita Medley; and three brothers, Hazel Garner, John W. Garner, and William L. Garner. 

She leaves to mourn, nine surviving children.   Six daughters, Shirley Farrar (Thomas) Siler City, NC; Renee Jones (Ralph), High Point, NC;  Laura Coble, Staley, NC; Gwen Hunter, Liberty, NC; Debra Curtis (Kenneth), Liberty, NC; Crystal Shoffner Harris (Keith), Liberty, NC.  Three surviving sons are:  James R. Shoffner (Deborah), Virginia Beach, VA; Pastor Joel (Diffy) Shoffner, Brown Summit, NC;  Mark Randy Shoffner (Earline), Asheboro, NC.  Cozie leaves a legacy of 46 grandchildren, 71 great-grandchildren, and 32 great-great grandchildren whose ages span infant to age 56.     She also leaves to mourn one sister, Addie Pearl Andrews Watson, Gibsonville, NC; two sisters-in-law, Martha Hubbard Garner, Pleasant Garden, NC; and Kathleen Shoffner Brown, Greensboro, NC.  One brother-in-law, Joe Rogers, Greensboro, NC.    She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

To my last and loving sister, I give to you a favorite scripture Psalms 91:1 ‘whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty’.  You have arrived at your eternal resting place, so rest in peace……Addie Pearl Watson

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