Stella's Roots - Part 2

Jim and I traveled to Franklin and Coffee County. Our first stop was the public library in Winchester. We obtained a copy of Allie Mae Nolen Kirk's obituary.  Allie Mae was reportedly Stella's half sister.  Willis and Sallie (Sargent) Machen were listed as her parents.  I had hoped her parents would be Goins but no such luck.  The in-house genealogist was a little overwhelmed with our questions about the local girls school, the Francis family of Cowan and the local record keeping, so she recommended  a visit to the county archives to consult with Judy Phillips.

Ms. Phillips was very helpful.  When we mentioned the school Stella attended, she immediately called it by name, Tullahoma Vocational School for Girls. She once had a friend whose mother had been at the school and in later years, found the school records in a barn in Nashville.  After a phone call, Ms. Phillips felt certain the records were now housed at the state library in Nashville.

Two of three original buildings for the vocational school. 

After learning Jim's mother could have been a Goins, she shared an interesting tidbit about the last name.  Goins is a Melungeon-associated surname that represents multiracial descendants. We found the discussion very interesting regardless whether Stella turns out to be a Goins or not.  Hopefully, the records at the state library will aid in the search for Stella's heritage.