Cathy Coleman

Catherine (Cathy) Lynn Coleman passed away at her home on Friday, February 14, 2025. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 12:30-2:00 at First Methodist Church in Columbus, MS. A Celebration of Life service, also at First Methodist Church will immediately follow at 2:00pm with the Reverend Dr. Vaughn Stafford officiating. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, MS.

Cathy was born on November 28, 1957, in Indianola, MS to the late John Paul (Paul) and Annie Jane (Ann) Covington. She grew up in Louisville, MS and met her husband Billy Coleman on a church bus belonging to First Baptist Church of Louisville where both of their families were faithful attendees. They married on December 14, 1975, shortly after semester finals her freshman year at Mississippi State University (MSU). She later graduated with a B.S. in Sales and Marketing from MSU.

She was a driven business woman and a natural born salesperson. Born with the ability to sell, she could “sell ice to an eskimo” and she ensured that the ice was perfect. She started her career in sales in the retail furniture business at Johnston Showroom in Columbus where she quickly ….earned the position of Sales Manager. After a few years she moved to become a successful advertising account executive at WCBI, the CBS affiliate in Columbus. She was determined to do whatever it takes to satisfy her clients, working long hours and providing quality service. Cathy later used her talents and drive to start her own advertising agency (Adsupmedia) where she focused on clients in the furniture business. 

Born with a creative mind and a selective and scrutinizing eye for detail, she could see things others couldn’t and was routinely consulted in business and by friends and family for her advice on design, visualization, and style to inform decisions. Her counsel was almost certainly always taken by some of her closest family and friends as well as other designers who sought validation from her often. 

Her vision for seeing the potential in what things could be also led to successful business ventures and community betterment. She always wanted to own a building downtown and purchased the bank building at the corner of 5th and Main from BancorpSouth in 2007. She spent 3 years restoring it to an award-winning downtown landmark that continues to be a vibrant part of downtown Columbus. Her restoration efforts earned the 2010 Heritage Award of Merit from the Mississippi Heritage Trust.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed creating things with her hands. She would knit, needlepoint, sew, refinish furniture, make pottery, etc. and was a great cook and she loved gifting her creations to friends and family. She was a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus where she spent countless hours searching for coats and shoes for the children of Columbus. She also did volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and with her church. Cathy was a long time member of First Methodist Church of Columbus where she belonged to the Sojourners Sunday School class and Methodist Women in Mission.

Cathy loved her family and was so very proud of her children. She truly enjoyed family trips to the beach, mountains and MSU sporting events.

Cathy is survived by her husband Billy, one son, Tyler Reynolds Coleman (McKinley) of Memphis, TN and one daughter Anna Claire Phillips (Blake) of Columbus. She is also survived by one brother, James (Jimmy) Allen Covington of Noxapater, MS and two sisters Linda Humphries (David) of Louisville and Beth Fleming (Trey) of Vicksburg. She was blessed with grandchildren Amory Coleman and Macaulay Coleman of Memphis, TN and Henry Phillips who is due to arrive in Columbus in June.

Pallbearers are: Reverend Evan Humphries, Eric Humphries, Robert Fleming, Max Hartleroad, Doug Robertson, and Tommy Nettles. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Sojourners Sunday School class and members of the Praymen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Methodist Church, P O Box 32, Columbus, MS, 39703.