OBITUARY: Jonathan David "Dave" Coward (1851-1928)
J.D. COWARD PASSES
J.D. Coward died at his home at Cullowhee last Sunday morning about 2 o'clock, June 3, 1928, following an illness of about three weeks. Having suffered a stroke of paralysis about three weeks ago, but he had been recovering and was feeling the best Saturday he had felt for several days, when he became very ill Saturday night, but he had seemingly recovered from this illness and was sitting a chair when the end came.
He is survived by six daughters, and widow. The daughters are Mrs. E.H. Stillwell, of Cullowhee; Mrs. Laura Bell Davis of Buckhead, Georgia; Mrs. Algie Brown of Oklahoma; Mrs. W.O. Hampton of Wilmington; Mrs. Earl Sutton of Cullowhee; and Mrs. Roy Bird, of Gilford. Also he is survived by the following brothers and sisters: R.R. Coward, of South Carolina; O.B. Coward, of Webster; J.H. Coward, [Peoria], Illinois; Frank Coward of Ohio; Mrs. W.C. Norton, Cullowhee; Mrs. Mary Zachary, Cowarts; Misses Frances and Jane Coward, Sylva.
The funeral was conducted at Cullowhee Methodist Church by the Pastor Rev. Mr. Floger Monday afternoon, June 4th. He was a member of the Methodist church and was a faithful worker in his church. He was also a Mason. The Masons of the county took part in this funeral. He was 76 years old.
(The Ruralite, Sylva, North Carolina, Tuesday, 5 June 1928)

HOLD COWARD RITES AT CULLOWHEE
Funeral services of J.D. Coward, veteran Cullowhee citizen, were held at the Cullowhee Methodist church, Tuesday morning, June 5th at 10 o'clock, being conducted by the pastor, Rev. J.S. Folger, and Professor Robert L. Madison. Interment was at Cullowhee, the services at the grave being in charge of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Coward passed on at his home, at Cullowhee, early Sunday morning, June 3, 1928 after a brief illness. He was 76 years of age, a native of Jackson County, a son of the late Nathan Coward, a pioneer of this county, and is survived by his widow, and six daughters: Mrs. Fannie Buchanan, of Cullowhee; Mrs. Edgar Stillwell, Cullowhee; Mrs. Laura Belle Davis, Buckhead, Georgia; Mrs. A. A. Brown, Oklahoma; Mrs. Earl Sutton, Mrs. W.O. Hampton, Wilmington; Mrs. Roy Bird, Guilford; several grandchildren, a number of brothers and sisters and a large number of other relatives and friends throughout this county and Western North Carolina.
Mr. Coward, who was a man of sturdy character, was a farmer, and served his county in many capacities. For a number of years he was a member of the board of county commissioners of Jackson county, was chairman of the revaluation board, in 1920; and was one of the members of the first board of trustees of the Cullowhee school, in which capacity he served for a long period, devoting much of his time to the building of the school, which has now become Cullowhee State Normal School.
He was a member of the Cullowhee Methodist church, a member of its board of trustees, and a member of the East Laporte Lodge, A.F. & A.M. [Ancient Free & Accepted Masons], of which lodge he was Past Master.
(Jackson County Journal, NC, ca. Thursday, 7 June 1928)
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Buckhead, Georgia; Mrs. Algie Brown of Oklahoma; Mrs. W.O. Hampton of Wilmington; Mrs. Earl Sutton of Cullowhee; and Mrs. Roy Bird, of Gilford. Also he is survived by the following brothers and sisters: R.R. Coward, of South Carolina; O.B. Coward, of Webster; J.H. Coward, [Peoria], Illinois; Frank Coward of Ohio; Mrs. W.C. Norton, Cullowhee; Mrs. Mary Zachary, Cowarts; Misses Frances and Jane Coward, Sylva.
The funeral was conducted at Cullowhee Methodist Church by the Pastor Rev. Mr. Floger Monday afternoon, June 4th. He was a member of the Methodist church and was a faithful worker in his church. He was also a Mason. The Masons of the county took part in this funeral. He was 76 years old.
(The Ruralite, Sylva, North Carolina, Tuesday, 5 June 1928)