Vida Messer Coley

COLEY Vida Messer Coley, "Mimi", of Jacksonville, FL, retired cosmetologist, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother died on June 20, 2006 at the Community Hospice Hadlow Center. Born in Dellwood, FL on December 22, 1925, she attended public schools in Jackson County. She graduated from Greenwood High School and was valedictorian of her class. Mimi's first trip out of Florida came in 1944. She traveled alone by train to San Francisco to marry the love of her life Paul Andrew Coley. Mr. Coley was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corp during WWII and stationed at Travis Air Base. Mimi was an active and well-loved member of Southside United Methodist Church where she was a past president of United Methodist Women, a member of the Heritage Sunday School Class, and a member of the Rachel Circle of UMW. She was one of two quilters who designed and lovingly created a 54 by 75 inch celebration quilt for the fiftieth anniversary of Southside United Methodist Church. The quilt was framed, displayed throughout the jubilee year at special events and now permanently hangs in the Family Life Center. She and her family are primary sponsors of the Stephen Ministries program at Southside United Methodist Church. Mimi's family will miss her sense of love, sense of faith and sense of laughter. Holidays for the family included an opportunity to enjoy Mimi's world famous pecan pie. Mimi's sister, Ann, moved to Jacksonville six months ago. Time has no boundaries when sisters are together. They were teenagers once more sharing the joys of everyday life. The sunflower was her favorite flower. Just as the large yellow sunflower turns to face the sun, Mimi turned to face God. With strength of character and her love of God, she was an inspiration to all. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless before Him" Psalms 84:11. Mrs. Coley was the wife of Paul Andrew Coley, Sr. for 62 years, the mother of P. Andrew Coley, Jr. MD (Kathy), grandmother of Veda Joy Rutledge, Erin Evette Coley, Andrea Carson Coley & A. Talmadge Coley, great grandmother of Carson Coley Rutledge, sister of Ann Henderson (Charles), aunt of many nieces & nephews and special friend of Donna Signorile. Walk in peace, dear sweet Mimi. To celebrate the life of Mimi, family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Friday, June 23, 2006 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Avenue. Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, June 24, 2006 at Southside United Methodist Church with Dr. Wayne Wiatt & Dr. Gene Zimmerman officiating. Burial in Oaklawn Cemetery will follow. Memorial contributions may be offered to the Stephen Ministries at Southside United Methodist Church. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com