The name Cokesbury is a combination of the last names of the first two American Methodist bishops, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury, both elected in 1784.
He has earned his living in public relations and in 2003 published his first book "Eliza Asbury" which chronicled the life of the mother of Francis Asbury, the first Bishop of the Methodist Church in the United States.
Earnest donated the land for the Ebenezer Methodist Church, which was completed in 1795 and ordained that same year by Bishop Francis Asbury.
Francis Bacon | Francis I of France | Francis Ford Coppola | Pope Francis | Connie Francis | Francis I | Francis Poulenc | Francis of Assisi | Francis Drake | Richard Francis Burton | Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor | Francis | Francis Xavier | James Francis Edward Stuart | Francis Scott Key | St. Francis Xavier University | Francis Crick | Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor | Francis Galton | Francis Toye | Francis II | Francis Fukuyama | Francis Collins | Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings | Arlene Francis | Taylor & Francis | St. Francis | Sir Francis Baring, 1st Baronet | Francis Veber | Francis Marion |
Many notable people traveled along the Trace, among them Andrew Jackson, Judge John McNairy, Governor William Blount, Louis Philippe, Duke of Orléans (who later became King of France), Bishop Francis Asbury, French botanist André Michaux, Tennessee Governor Archibald Roane, Thomas "Big Foot" Spencer, and others.
Many of the prominent early leaders of the Methodist Church are known to have preached both at Dudley's including Francis Asbury, Thomas Coke, Richard Whatcoat, Jesse Lee, and Freeborn Garrettson.