Chief Rebecca Jean Coleman

A loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, Rebecca Jean Coleman was surrounded by family in the comfort of her home when she entered heaven on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at the age of 70.
Rebecca was born in Magee, MS on Thursday, September 4, 1952, to the late Roosevelt and Rebecca (Durr) Nelson. She graduated from McLaurin High School in Magee, MS. Upon graduation, she furthered her education at Jackson State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in Social Work.
Rebecca viewed her career in law enforcement as her call to service. She was raised in a religious family that always believed if you put God first, everything else should fall into place. It worked for her as she often said, "I have unwavering faith in God, knowing that through him all things are possible. I move forward in my life my living on this premise, First God, then family, then the job."
Rebecca joined the Jackson Police Department on October 20, 1974, as one of the first three African American females to be hired by the City of Jackson. In 1978, she became one of the first two African American females to become a sergeant within the police department. She continued to quickly rise through the ranks becoming the first African American female to be appointed as an Acting Deputy Chief of Police, first African American female Deputy Chief, and the first African American female to retire from the Jackson Police Department.
After leaving the Jackson Police Department in 1994, she served as the very first African American female police Chief for the Forest Hill Police Department in Texas, before moving on to become the Assistant Manager of that city. Later the same year, she returned home to serve as the Associate Director of Public Safety for Jackson State University's Police Department. She then left to become the Division Director of Program Integrity, Office of Fraud Investigations for the Mississippi Department of Human Services. From there, she returned to Jackson State University and served as the Director of Public Safety for 11 years.
In October 2009, Rebecca achieved her life long dream, returning to JPD as the Chief of Police and led the Department until her retirement in 2013. As a proud native of Simpson County, she always stated that becoming chief was her greatest professional achievement because it had always been her dream to run the department.
She was joined in holy matrimony to George Coleman. To this union two children were born, Danielle Demetrius and Dana Michelle Coleman. Her daughters were her greatest accomplishment and the joy of her life. She took pride in loving her children, taking trips, and making memories, while fulfilling her "bucket list" which included travels across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and France. But her travels were always limited to the months of January through August, as she was a well-known season ticket holder for Thee Jackson State University Tigers.
Having battled colon rectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, Rebecca was an avid giver to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, encouraged blood donations, and cancer research. She also regularly contributed to Gateway Rescue Mission whose mission and goal of providing a message of hope in Jesus Christ aligned closely with her beliefs.
Early in life, Rebecca decided to seek and follow the Lord. She joined Macedonia M.B. Church in Mt. Olive, MS. After moving to Jackson, MS, she united with Greater Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church where she served as a faithful member.
Rebecca was preceded in death by her parents Roosevelt and Rebecca (Durr) Nelson; brothers Ned McInnis and R.V. Nelson; sisters Nellie Kassim, Mozell Nelson, and Nancy Barner.
Rebecca leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Danielle Demetrius and Dana Michelle Coleman, Clinton, MS; a brother Clifton Daniel Nelson (Youlanda), Flora, MS; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, a fur son, and two grand fur babies.
Visitation Hours will be held Wednesday 3/29/23 from 11:00 a.m.-7 p.m. at Peoples Funeral Home
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday 3/30/23 at Greater Mt. Sinai located on 1900 Bailey Avenue Jackson, Mississippi 39203 and proceed to Macedonia Cemetery located on 83 Macedonia Road Mount Olive, Mississippi 39119