Eloise Coleman

COLEMAN, Mrs. Eloise Johnson, 94, passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2010, at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill, S.C. There will be a celebration of Mrs. Coleman's life on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Lexington Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Va. Burial will be private. A native of Bedford, Va., Mrs. Coleman was a daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Edward Lewis Johnson. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Patrick Coleman; and her son, William Patrick Coleman Jr. Mrs. Coleman lived most of her life in Lexington, Va. In 1998, she moved to Westminster Towers, a retirement community in Rock Hill, S.C., to be near one of her daughters. Mrs. Coleman attended Southern Seminary Junior College in Buena Vista, Va. While attending Southern Seminary, she was elected to represent her college in the Tobacco Festival in South Boston, Va. After graduating from Southern Seminary, she studied music at Randolph-Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, Va. While living in Lexington, Mrs. Coleman was a very active member of the Lexington Presbyterian Church, where she served as circle chairman and vice-president of the Women of the Church. She was also active in many civic organizations. She was a member of the Lexington Women's Club, where she served as president. She was a member of the Lexington Garden Club, also serving as president. She was a member of the Virginia Frontier DAR chapter, serving as their regent. She was a member of the "The Book Club" of Lexington, where she served as chairman. She served on the Stonewall Jackson Hospital board in Lexington. She was a member of the General William R. Terry United Daughters of the Confederacy of Bedford, Va. She was a life member of the Rockbridge County Historical Society as well as a life member of the Bedford Historical Society. While residing in South Carolina, she was a member of The Red Hat Society. Mrs. Coleman was a very talented musician, who loved playing the piano. She spent many hours volunteering to play for her church, in nursing homes and retirement homes. Even when she moved into a retirement community, she was known for sharing her talents with the residents of the assisted living and health care community. She was asked often to play for fashion shows or private parties. She always had a song in her heart and looked for the best in others. Many of the characteristics of the woman of Proverbs 31 describe her well, but the 26th verse surely brings Eloise to mind, "the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Mrs. Coleman was a lovely, kind and giving lady and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Mrs. Coleman is survived by her two daughters, Jane Coleman Balfour and her husband, Dan, of Richmond, Va., and Noell Coleman Kimball and her husband, Jack, of York, S.C. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Amy Coleman Balfour of Lexington, Va., Jane Gillette Balfour of Richmond, Va., Eloise "Molly" Kimball Baker and her husband, Geoffrey, of York, S.C., Laura Kimball Otto and her husband, Jeff, of Franklin, Tenn., Thomas Jonathan Jackson Kimball and his wife, Tracy, of Rock Hill, S.C., David Coleman Kimball and his wife, Courtney, of Rock Hill, S.C., and Benjamin Patrick Kimball of York, S.C. Mrs. Coleman is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Lauren Abigayle Baker, Madison Eloise Baker, Lillian Noel Otto, Jackson Bradley Kimball and Olivia Claire Kimball. Memorials may be made in Mrs. Coleman's name to Westminster Towers Endowment Fund, c/o Westminster Towers, 1330 India Hook Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732; or Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 993, Rock Hill, S.C. 29731; or National D-Day Memorial, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, Va. 24523. Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel is assisting the Coleman family.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.