Lewis Thomas "Tommy" Coleman

Lewis Thomas “Tommy” Coleman, 88, of Cantonment, FL, died of heart failure in Montgomery, AL, on March 12, 2017. Tommy was born in Pensacola on June 15, 1928, to Dewey and Mamie Coleman, the middle child of three. After a short time in the Army Air Force in the late 1940s, Tommy was called to the ministry, becoming ordained in the Assembly of God church and pastoring at several churches in Northwest Florida and Southern Alabama. During this time his oldest son, Michael, was born. Returning to lay life and working at the Naval Air Rework Facility at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Tommy married the love of his life, Anne Woodward Coleman, and together raised their youngest son, Mark. Even when Tommy was not a full time minister, his ministry of preaching and teaching allowed him to work with many local churches, including Brownsville Assembly of God, Pine Forest Assembly of God, Brentwood Assembly of God, Eastside Assembly of God and Molino Assembly of God at Pugh’s Chapel. Like his wife and son, he had the heart of a teacher, and taught popular adult Sunday School classes at many of these churches. He also loved to minister in song, singing bass in Southern Gospel groups such as The Vigils Quartet and The Elders Quartet. One of Tommy’s favorite things to do was raise vegetables in his garden. Even in his advanced years he still managed a small garden, with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli and cabbage. Anyone who knew Tommy was well aware of his fondness for fishing, especially fishing for mullet with a cast net in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Tommy had a thirst for knowledge, and was constantly reading and researching, adding to his vast knowledge of the bible, history, and any other topic that interested him. Recently, Tommy moved to Montgomery to be closer to his son Mark, and Mark’s family. He spent the last weeks of his life picking his grandchildren up from school, enjoying the company of his family, and eating fried fish with his oldest grandson, Liam. Tommy is preceded in death by his wife Anne and oldest son, Michael, as well as his sister, Catherine, and brother, Harold. He is survived by his youngest son, Mark, and Mark’s wife, Heather, and his grandsons, Liam and Simon. Visitation will take place Friday night, March 17, 2017, from 5PM to 8PM at Faith Chapel Funeral Home on Beverly Parkway. Funeral services will be at 11AM on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at Faith Chapel, with a procession afterwards to Bayview Cemetery. After the graveside service, a reception with food and fellowship will be held at Eastside Assembly of God at 2990 East Kingsfield Road. All are welcome to attend. For more information call Mark at 334-595-9673. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Pkwy Pensacola, FL entrusted with arrangements. You may send condolences to the family at www.fcfhs.com.

Tributes

Lewis Thomas "Tommy" Coleman

June 15, 1928 - March 12, 2017