Mrs.
Obituary
Willie Agnes Steele Coleman, born April 25, 1925, was the fourteenth child born to
Noy and Hattie Watkins Steele in the community of Prairie located in Wilcox County,
Alabama. She accepted Christ in her life at a young age and became a very active
member of Prairie Presbyterian church. Her formal education began at Prairie Mission School. During
her early schooling, she learned to play the piano and would often play for school activities and various
church services. Music was always an important part of her life. After graduating from the ninth grade she
enrolled at Wilcox County Training School. She was a good student and realized that education was her
key to success. Her goal was to be a teacher and she worked to that end.
As an aspiring teacher, Willie attended Tuskegee Institute, she would often speak of how much she enjoyed
singing with the Golden Voices while she was a student. She earned a certificate, then returned to Wilcox County
to start her teaching career. She went on to complete a Baccalaureate degree and Master’s degree in elementary
education from Alabama State University. Additional study provided endorsements in Special Education and
Reading. After a successful thirty year teaching career in Montgomery Public Schools, Montgomery, Alabama
she retired but remained active in Metropolitan United Methodist Church where she has been a faithful member
since settling in Montgomery. She has served as a Church musician, choir member, Children’s choir director,
Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, chairman of the History Committee, and president of the
United Methodist Women’s Organization. Within the community she was active with the Montgomery Retired
Teachers Association, the Senior Citizens Club, the Montgomery Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Incorporated and the Fredrick Douglas Community Choir at Alabama State University.
She was honored for her service as Partner in Education Volunteer of the Year, Southlawn Elementary School
Delta of the Year (Delta Reading Program), Delta ‘Dear’ of the Year, Sickle Cell Foundation Scholarship Donor
Award and The Calhoun P.A.R.I.S. Foundation Sponsor.
Mrs. Coleman was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 63 years, Jewel Bryant Coleman, Sr. whom
she met while they were students at Tuskegee. She is survived by the five children they raised together: Jewel B.
Coleman, Jr., Joyce Coleman Johnson, Jacinta C. (Dwayne) Berry, Agnes C. (Samuel) Fields, and James Norris
(Terri) Coleman. She will be missed greatly by her thirteen grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren, two
sisters -in-law Modesa Steele, Cleveland, Ohio and Thelma Steele Atlanta, GA. She also leaves many beloved
nieces and nephews: Addie Collins, Bettie (Robert) Rounsaville, Charles (Wanda) McCall, III, Kenneth McCall,
Ethel (Nathaniel) Moore, Mary Stallworth, Donald (Helen) Pettway, Alfred (Elaine) Williams, Delores Taylor,
Esther (Isaiah) Johnson, Jeanette Smith, Sherrod Smith, Jr., Florence Williams, Michael Steele James Roy, Gladys
G. McKnight, Harry L. (Jackie) McKnight. Joe E.(Caroline) Roy, Lynn Coleman Johnson, Dr. Jerry (Nge) Roy,
Robert A. Coleman, and Edward Coleman.
We Will Miss You!