“Strike up the band, assemble the choir, another soldier’s coming home…”
One of the greatest prayer warriors we’ve ever known has finished her earthly race and gone to be with her Lord and Savior. Wanda Jean Coleman (77) said her last prayer and entered the gates of heaven on March 9, 2022. Though cancer ravaged her earthly body, she now stands whole and complete at the feet of her beloved Lord and Savior.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Rev. Jon Nesbit officiating. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
She was born September 11, 1944 in Artesia, CA to Gayle and Beatrice Allen Batley. In the mid 60’s, she became a resident of Greenville, TX where she would remain until her death. She had many different occupations during her life. She worked in the hospital laundry, as a production seamstress for Haggar’s Slacks, a Meter Reader for the Greenville Police Dept, Warehouse Manager for the City of Greenville, and janitor for Quinlan ISD. But the most important titles she ever held was that of Mom, Granny, Great-Gran & Great-Great-Gran.
Mom was the first to tell you she wasn’t an educated woman, but to her family and close friends, she was one of the wisest women in the world. Anyone whoever had a conversation with her knew that she was a theologian in her own right -- greatly knowledgeable about God and the Bible. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and every chance she got, she shared Him with her family, friends, and anyone she met. She was a humble servant who would give you the shirt off her back, if you needed it, but most of all she was a fierce prayer warrior and daily protected herself by putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Mom spent many hours every day studying God’s word or in conversation with God and constantly praying for those she loved and cared for. She made sure her children were raised knowing God as well as her grandchildren. She loved us unconditionally and taught us to love others like Jesus.
She is survived by her husband, Carl Coleman of Greenville; son Gene Toohey and wife Marie of Greenville, daughters Denise Shuler of Greenville, and Amber Anderson and husband Lance of Mena, AR; 11 grandchildren, Kerry, Justin, Stephanie, Shea, April, Elisa, Sarah, Shelby, Melissa, Amber Joy and Tyler. 21 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Angela Diane Toohey, grand-daughter, Julia Nicole Toohey, one brother, Otis Franklin, 4 sisters, Mary Franklin, Betty Franklin, Billie Kinder and Maxine Leggett.