Charlotte Maumus Schully Coe

1930 - 2024

Charlotte Maumus Schully Coe left this world on Saturday, October 12th the way she lived her life – surrounded by love. To know Charlotte, fondly called "Honey," was to know that she was frequently in the company of adoring fans, whether one of her grandchildren or an audience of theatre goers. Her magnetic personality, theatrical tales, and enthusiastic acceptance of all individuals meant that everyone who encountered Charlotte immediately loved her. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1930, Charlotte expressed an early interest in ballet and the arts. She carried this into adulthood, frequently volunteering at Le Petit Theatre in set decorating and teaching ballet to underprivileged children belonging to St. Raymond's Parish. At St. Frances Cabrini, Charlotte directed several school productions and choreographed many plays, from variety shows featuring school parents to a full ballet of The Nutcracker. Charlotte's interests, however, didn't end with her artistic pursuits. She and her beloved husband, Octave Foerster "Dinny" Schully, were known to have a thriving social life and calendar. They famously hosted large holiday dinners and entertained lively groups of family and friends at their home in Waveland, Mississippi. In the early 1960s, Charlotte and Dinny served as the Chair-Couple for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, tasked with the job of offering their perspective on the changes occurring in the Catholic Church following Vatican II. Charlotte's hobbies, though diverse, never veered far from her love for the theatre. At the time of Dinny's unexpected death when he was just fifty-five, Charlotte was rehearsing the titular role in his favorite show, Mame. She persevered through the production and its seventeen costume changes, a character trait she honed through life's challenges and tragedies. While Charlotte learned to endure all the hardships life threw her way, she never lost her quick wit, twinkling eyes, and optimistic outlook. Over time, Charlotte earned attention and accolades for her local acting work, and in 1991 she moved to New York City. In the newspaper article which discussed her upcoming move, Charlotte expressed a sense of adventure, and that her grandchildren were a big reason why it was so difficult for her to leave New Orleans. Nevertheless, Charlotte took a chance, declaring that she would only be away for one year, and made her solo move to the Big Apple. The work was plentiful, including a role alongside Kevin Klein and Blair Underwood in Measure for Measure in Shakespeare in the Park. Numerous friends and family visited her, and before she knew it, Charlotte was a full-fledged New Yorker. She even became a surrogate mother to the younger New Orleanians who, like her, moved to The City to try to make it big. For three years Charlotte remained in New York before returning home to say goodbye to her mother. The next several years, Charlotte took the stage in New Orleans, earning four Big Easy Awards. The highlight of her career, however, was her role as Mother Goose in a production by the same name, a role she accepted so that her young grandchildren could watch her on stage. As time wore on, Charlotte acted a little less and traveled a lot more, particularly during her five-year marriage to Paul Eber Coe, a beautiful relationship cut short when he lost his battle with cancer. With Paul, Charlotte traveled the world, expanding her knowledge of other cultures and filling her suitcases with souvenirs. At Christmas, her family enjoyed unwrapping exotic packages containing silk pajamas from China, Russian Matryoshka dolls, or hand carved Zimbabwean drums, gifts that today are in the possession of several great-grandchildren. In 2004, Charlotte moved to Covington, Louisiana, and her life began to finally slow down. She made friends, celebrated the local art scene, and enjoyed "life in the country." It was in Covington that Charlotte began to sculpt, primarily using strong female figures as her models. Through sculpting, Charlotte contemplated her life, both in terms of what had been and what she desired most. These sculptures featured prominently in the room where she spent her last days, a reminder of her beautiful life, yet providing a mere snapshot of all she achieved. Charlotte lived her final fourteen years at Lambeth House in New Orleans before returning to Covington. In the comfort of her daughter's and son-in-law's home, Charlotte received amazing care at the hands of Christine Pieri and Foundations Hospice. Charlotte is preceded in death by her late husbands, Octave Foerster Schully, junior and Paul Eber Coe, junior, her parents, Charles Hackney Maumus and Ruth Bickham Maumus, her brother Charles Albert Maumus II, her sister Mary Anne Maumus Hicks, her son Octave Foerster Schully III, and her daughter, Susan Mary Schully. Charlotte is survived by her children, Judith Schully Doussan (Jeffrey René Doussan), Barry Charles Schully (Ellen Faust Schully), Mary Anne Schully Voelkel (Matthew Christian Voelkel), and Christopher Paul Schully (Barbara Boland Schully). Charlotte is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Memories of Charlotte live on in her family and friends. To celebrate Charlotte's life, please join us at Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home in New Orleans on Monday, October 21st at 9:00 for the visitation and 11:00 for Mass. There will be a gathering at Longue Vue House and Gardens to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Sister Helen Prejean's Ministry Against the Death Penalty (3009 Grand Route St. John, #6, New Orleans, LA 70119) or the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph (Baton Rouge Center, 3134 Hundred Oaks Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808).