Geraldine Earl Coker

Graveside service for Geraldine E. Coker will be held at Elmwood Cemetery on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at 12 noon. The Reverend John E. King, Jr. pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, will be officiating. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Smith and Gaston Funeral Services, but there will be no public viewing of the body. There are no restrictions on the number of people who may attend. However, all individuals are required to wear a protective mask (or face covering) and to practice social distancing. Limited seating will be available. 
 
In memory of Geraldine E. Coker, the family asks that in lieu of sending flowers, please make donations to the Trinity Baptist Church College Scholarship Fund. Geraldine believed strongly in educating the next generation. You may mail your check to Trinity Baptist Church, 900 Graymont Avenue West, Birmingham, Alabama 35204. 
 
 

                                                                                        Obituary

                Geraldine Earl Coker was born to Earl and Jacqueline Coker on February 23, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama. She started school at Ferguson Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed the rest of her elementary and junior high education at Brunetta C. Hill School in Birmingham. She attended A. H. Parker High School where she was a member of Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society and a graduate of the January Class of 1964.  After graduating from high school, she enrolled in Booker T. Washington Business College and graduated with a degree in Business in 1967.

During her first semester in Business College, at age 17, she took the Civil Service Examination for entry level employment. She passed the exam but had to wait until her 18th birthday to be hired. As soon as she turned 18, she accepted her first job as a file clerk with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the 2121 Building (downtown Birmingham). Jeri worked during the day and attended school at night. She moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1968 to accept a promotion with the IRS. To qualify for other IRS positions, she took finance courses at Georgia State University, Oglethorpe University, and Kennesaw University.  She held positions such as tax auditor, budget analyst, and other related positions. She traveled extensively to help modernize the IRS systems and received numerous awards for meritorious service. After 36 years of service to the IRS, she finished her career as a financial manager--retiring in September 2001.   

Jeri accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, joining Trinity Baptist Church in Birmingham under the leadership of Dr. James Lowell Ware. While living in Atlanta she was a member of New Life Presbyterian Church (College Park, GA) under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Lonnie Oliver.  There, she served on the usher board and the finance committee. She moved back to Birmingham in 2003 and re-established her membership at Trinity Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. John E. King, Jr. At Trinity she served as a faithful member of the usher board, Trinity Greeters, and the Trinity Community Development Center.  

Her favorite Scripture was Isaiah 40:31: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Her favorite contemporary gospel song was God’s Grace by Luther Barnes.

                Jeri was a woman of many talents, abilities, and interests. She was meticulous, well organized, a strategic planner, and lived a disciplined life. She believed strongly in educating the next generation and was instrumental in helping her nieces and nephews complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees.  She loved gardening, shopping, traveling, decorating, and reading; watching football; listening to jazz, the blues, and contemporary gospel music; and entertaining friends and family in her home.     

After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Jeri passed away on June 23, 2020.  She was predeceased by her oldest sister, Clementine Coker Walton (New York, NY); and her parents, Earl and Jacqueline Coker (Birmingham, AL). She leaves to cherish her memories: two loving, kindhearted, and devoted sisters:  Margo D. Coker, Alabaster, AL, and Sadie Coker Fairley, Fairburn, GA; two brothers: Ronald E. Coker (Deborah), Fayetteville, GA and Robert N. Coker (Gretchen), Violet, LA; one nephew, David A. Coker, Atlanta, GA; one aunt: Brenda N. Gardner (Eddie), Birmingham, AL; three nieces: Regina Coker Spencer (Shawn), Birmingham, AL, Kimya Coker Singleton (Greg), Smyrna, GA, and Cerrone Coker Lockett (Isaac), Atlanta, GA; five great-nephews: Gerald N. Coker (Candice), Locust Grove, GA, Taylor Lee Coker, Stockbridge, GA, Blake N. Coker (Kaylin) , San Diego, CA, Baron Oliver singleton  and Duke Alexander Singleton, Smyrna, GA; five great-nieces: Ariana Spencer, Birmingham, AL, Khloe Coker and  Karson Coker, San Diego, CA, Sariah Coker, Locust Grove, GA, Sullivan Monroe Lockett, Atlanta, GA, Kensley Coker, Stockbridge, GA; and a host of other relatives and friends.

TO THOSE I LOVE

When I am gone, just release me,

Let me go—so I can move into my afterglow.

You mustn’t tie me down with your tears; let’s be happy

that we had so many years. I gave you my love, you can only guess

How much you gave me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown, but now it’s time I traveled on alone.

                So grieve for me awhile, if you grieve

You must, then let your grief be comforted with trust. It’s only for a while that

we must part, so bless the memories within your heart. And then, when you must

come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and a “Welcome Home.”