Cassie Coffee Window

The Cassie K. Coffee Memorial Window

author:  Annie Malone Erwin

A crown in the circle of blue in the stained glass window, placed high in the panel, symbolizes eternal life and also Christ, the King, being over all.  The window is of simple design in shades of brown, with strong lines, and greens which blend beautifully with the other windows.


This window is a memorial to Cassie Kyle Coffee, (1878 - 1888) daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Aaron Coffee.


An excerpt from an “In Memoriam” written by her pastor, Reverend  L. T. Thompson, would introduce Cassie to those of us who never knew her. “This evening at 5:00 the Death Angel came to the house of our brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Coffee, and took from their fond embrace their own sweet Cassie.  She was 10 years, 9 months, and 16 days old.


A woman in thought, a lady in demeanor, a child in innocence, and a Christian in deed and character - so gentle, so kind, so affectionate, that all loved her.


So much was her spirit like Heaven that God sent His angels and took her to Himself.


God opened her spirit vision and with a look all radiant and glorious she exclaimed, ‘How grand, how beautiful and glorious and I’ll soon be there.’ Then, kissing papa, mama, sister (Mrs. John Church) and her physician (Dr. J. C. Erwin, Sr.) she took her flight with the Angels to the upper and better mansion.


All hearts were touched as the dear little girls who loved Cassie so much covered her casket and grave with flowers and mourned her.”


Colonel and Mrs. Coffee were early members of the FIrst Presbyterian Church in McKinney.  He joined in 1876 and she in 1877.  He was quite active in the church, serving as deacon, elder, and clerk of session at different periods.  Because of an accident, Mrs. Coffee was confined to a wheelchair at an early age  Occasionally, she attended church, but the Sundays she wasn’t there, an elder or the minister would have a service at 4 o’clock in her room.  Many friends would come for this service.  Even today [1974], those who knew her speak so lovingly of this brilliant, courageous, Christian lady.


Colonel Coffee was noted for his agricultural, political, and religious articles published in the local papers as well as Presbyterian Record.  He signed his articles “Old Cotton Planter”.

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