When Thomas James Coggins was born on 26 June 1904, in South Carolina, United States, his father, Albert Melton Coggins, was 22 and his mother, Mary Ella Hendrix, was 17. He married Grace Cecelia Mcavoy on 8 April 1930, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. He lived in Bronx, Bronx, New York, United States in 1930 and Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States in 1940. He died on 3 January 1958, in Reidville, Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States, at the age of 53, and was buried in Greer, Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States.