Winnie Louise Freelon

Winnie Louise Freelon 96, born on January 11, 1929 transitioned peacefully from her life mortal into the glorious halls of Life Everlasting on September 24, 2025 at her home in Topeka, Kansas. Winnie was born in Columbia Missouri to the union of John Brown Coates and Winnie May (Rogers) Coates. She attended and graduated from the Frederick Douglass High School, in Columbia, and completed two years at a Business College in St. Louis, Missouri. She became a Cleaning Professional at the Stephens College, in Columbia, where she was employed for many years and eventually retired from. She was an active member of the "Jolly S Club" an activist for social, equity, and educational norms during the civil rights era. A woman of great integrity, often seen as shy and unimposing, unless and until she was faced to assert herself into any state of affairs, that she deemed essential to involve herself in.
Winnie was an artist extraordinaire, gifted in many creative ways. She was an exceptional cook and an even better Chocolatier, a confectioner who focused specifically on making the world's greatest Black Walnut fudge! She Quilted, Crocheted, Knitted, the most beautiful and creatively fun coverings for the beds. She did Alterations, made dolls and stuffed bears as accessories. She was an avid reader, with a wide range of categories that capture her attention, and she loved puzzle books of all kind.
Winnie was baptized and grew up in the Christian faith at the St. Paul AME Church in Columbia, Missouri, where she served on the Steward Board, the Finance Commission, as both a member and one of the President of the P.C. Crews Women's Missionary Society, a member of the Chancel Choir, once served as the YPD Director, and she was chairperson of many special projects and programs at St. Paul. She traveled the itinerancy, for many years with her youngest daughter sharing in various lay ministries at Ward Chapel, Mexico, MO; Hall's Chapel in Newton, Kansas; Bethel in Hutchinson, Kansas; Ebenezer in Bremerton, Washington; at Christ Our Redeemer in Kansas City, Missouri; and at the Historic St. Mark's in Topeka, Kansas. In each place she served in the Missionary Society, she continued to lend her voice and talent in the various choirs. She was consecrated as a Deaconess in the AME Church, served as a Stewardess, was once the Kansas/Nebraska Conference WMS Creative Arts Chairperson, and while living in Kansas City, Kansas with her second born, she attended the St. Paul AME Church in KCK, and shared her gifts and graces there also.
Winnie was preceded in death by her parents John and Winnie Coates; her siblings John H. Coates, Etta L. Bannister, Evelyn N. Washington, Laura M. Garcia, Gussie M. Coates, Cordelia Coates, Dora Williams, and Lawrence Coates. Winnie leaves to mourn her death her children Janice K. Ridgeway (Clyde); Melva Crum-Sanders (Jerome); Darrell E. Freelon (Remona); Rev. May E. Hall; Brenda S. Harvey (Howard); Joel L. Freelon (Donna); Rev. Shirley D. Heermance; Lawrence S. Freelon (Shelly); Charles E. Freelon, Jr. (Marie); and John L. Freelon, Jr. (Melonie); a host of Grands, Great Grands, and a number of Great-great Grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and friends.
The Homegoing Celebration will be held at the St. Paul AME Church located at 501 Park Avenue in Columbia, Missouri 65201 on Saturday October 4, 2025 * Eleven O'clock AM. Rev. May E. Hall will preside, and Rev. Shirley D. Heermance will provide the Eulogy.