Willie Opal Coleman

Opal Black Coleman, aka Willie Opal Black Coleman born March 16, 1919 in Beaumont Mississippi passed away in the loving care of Covenant Care Hospice facility at Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola, Fl. on Wednesday, February 5th, 2020. After 3 days straight by her side, she waits until I slip off to the cafeteria for a few minutes to slip out the room. Believe me, if I heard the trumpets and saw the open Gates of Heaven, I would have left the room, too. She was 5 weeks away from turning 101. She lived a wonderful life. And outlived 3 husbands. She was my mother! The best I ever had, lol. It was rumored she said the same thing about me ... "the best one that she ever had, lol". In addition to out living 3 husbands, she was preceded in death by both parents her only sister, Bertice Dickens, her 2 older brothers Joseph and Beason Black, 2 younger brothers Walter and Henry Black. She was also blessed with many wonderful sisters-in-law, Betty Black of Phoenix, Arizona, JoAnn Black of Prattville, Ala. and Betty Black of Mobile, Ala. She is also preceded in death by her 3 step sons whom she loved as her own, Allen Coleman, Dennis Coleman and Jimmy Coleman as well as a foster daughter AnaBee. She was also preceded in death by too many dear friends as well as so many other relatives to recall at this sad time. Opal is survived by me, her son, James Harold Smith and all of his friends that she took in any chance she could over the years. Also surviving is Harolds children, her beloved grandchildren, Jessica Danielle Smith Currin and Harris Colton Smith (Danielle Currin and her husband Aaron Currin are the proud parents of Opals Great Grandchildren, Spurgeon James Currin, Evangeline Clementine Currin, Wolfgang Augustine Currin. Also surviving are her beloved daughter in laws, Cinda Aman Whitfield and Lisa Hornbrook, Betty Lou Coleman-mother of grandsons Shawn and Jason Coleman, Sharon-mother of granddaughter Tina. Patsy-mother of Allen Jr. One other set of beloved grandchildren, Fraternal twins Keaton and Claire Coleman, foster daughter, Mary Helen Pierce as well as 2 younger brothers, Everette Black of Phoenix Arizona and Eldon Black of Prattville, Alabama. Favorite nieces, Melba, Martha, Sandra Nancy and Dian. Favorite nephews, Mark, Michael and Steve Black. Lisa Wilbur whom she loved as a daughter. She was the foster grandmother to Sherri Ann Pettis as well as she was loved by so many more. Special love and thanks to three of my mothers best friends, her true bestie Mrs. Mary Rogers and Mary's son and daughter in law, David and Fran Rogers. Her Mom certainly enjoyed the many vacations that she took together with all 3 Rogers, as she would actively travel up until she turned 90. Also a special thanks to her wonderful neighbors for the past 25 years, Laura Hardy and Dean and Mary Buckley. This wonderful woman certainly was unique amongst all!!! Not only was she one of the most intelligent people that most have ever known ... she was one of the most thoughtful and loving persons on this planet. She had the unique qualities that really made a difference in other people's lives as well as an incredible intelligent sense of humor. But most of all, her love of all people, her sense of fairness and forgiveness was above reproach. She instilled the love of food and all things artistic as well as educational in myself and many others. She was always open minded and encouraged me to explore all things scientific, humanistic and literary. She was a highly accomplished artist in many mediums from oils to pen and ink, charcoal, water colors, acrylics as well as sculpture. She finally felt guilty being awarded so many of THE BLUE RIBBONS at the fair as well as many Gulf Coast Art Shows from the Mississippi Coast to Destin. Above all of that she was also one hell of a person/lady that's for sure. She outlived so many and was still a trooper even when she had to go to assisted living 4 years ago. She was one of the best communicators that ever walked the earth! From her very youth growing up in Beaumont Mississippi, living through and surviving the Great Depression, she was still the most giving soul alive. Her father William "Bill" Black left her mother Martha E. Black who had fallen severely ill at the time and was incapacitated for several years. Opal was just 17 and graduating from high school with honors and faced with doing the right thing no matter how hard ... she gave up a full literary scholarship to Ole Miss to stay home and help nurture her mother and to love, care for and help raise her 2 younger brothers that were ages 11 and 6 at the time. They turned out to be two of the most incredible caring and giving men and fathers that I've ever known ... and are still alive to this day. My uncles Everette and Eldon. Both loving fathers in their own right. Both WW2 veterans. She was also preceded in death by her one and only older sister, Bertrice "Aunt Bert" and several wonderful older brothers amongst my favorites were my "Uncle Henry" and my "Uncle Walter" !!!There were 2 other older brothers that were not known to me, that she spoke kindly of ... as she did every single individual that she ever spoke of. Up until a week before she passed, she could have recanted her entire life history better than most of us can communicate on a daily basis. Had her eyes not been failing, she would have continued working the daily crossword puzzle in usually 30 minutes or less. And she would have completed at least half of the New York Times Crossword Puzzle as she used to do daily. Even she exclaimed that was a tough one. She's already reunited with all that have preceded her in death and she's exploring all of the great mysteries of the afterlife and heaven! Visitation will be Friday, February 21, 2020, from 11:30 to 12:30 PM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Funeral service will follow at 12:30. Rev. David Rogers will be officiating. Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola. FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, is entrusted with arrangements. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.

Tributes

Willie Opal Coleman

March 16, 1919 - February 5, 2020