James C. Coker

1936 - 2008

James C. Coker, 71, of Poplar Hill, Va., and formerly of Pulaski, died on Thursday evening, October 16, 2008, at his residence. He was born October 29, 1936, in Macon County, Tenn., and was the son of the late Sadie Bell Templeton Coker Knight and Jesse Evans Coker. During his teenage years Jim attended the Providence Baptist Church in Tennessee. He was a veteran of the United States Army, was very active in the Jaycee's where he served as the State Vice-President, and was active in the Toastmasters Club, and loved square dancing and was a member of the New River Valley Squares. Jim first came to Giles County as an engineer for Celanese. He was later employed for 17 years by the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, George and Carl Coke; half brother, Willie "Bill" West Coker; and half sister, Lillie Mai Coker. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Jo Jean Coker, of Poplar Hill; five sons, Mark Coker and his wife, Deborah, of Roanoke, Kevin Coker, of Salem, Barry Coker and his wife, Linda, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Troy Coker and his wife, Jackie, of Appomattox, and Larry Manning, of Woodbridge; two daughters, Ramona Longbottom and her husband, Doug, of Oxford, Ga., and Annette Lyle and her husband, Joe, of Blacksburg; a sister, Mildred Brown, of Bethpage, Tenn.; and nine grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2008, at Thomas M. Seagle & Sons with the Rev. Johnny Howlett officiating. Interment will be held noon Central Standard Time (CST) on Monday, October 20, 2008, in the Eulia Cemetery in Westmoreland, Tenn. Visiting will be anytime on Sunday after 9 a.m. at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from noon until the 2 p.m. service time. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the American Kidney Fund, Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, Md. 20852 or to the Pulaski County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1046, Dublin, Va. 24084. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.seaglefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Thomas M. Seagle & Sons, Pulaski, Va.