Theresa Coots Edgecombe

COOTS EDGECOMBE

Theresa Coots Edgecombe, an activist and community servant, was born in Newport News, VA and educated in the public schools there. After taking the B.S. degree from Hampton University, she journeyed to Oklahoma where she remained for 30 years, returning to Richmond, VA in 1973. In the summer of 2000, after a brief hospitalization, she moved to Sarasota, FL, living with her daughter, until her death on March 7, 2004.

Theresa's first job in Oklahoma was at Langston University as the Administrative Assistant to the President, and later as Executive Secretary of the University. She took the Master's degree from Oklahoma State University, and pursued the Doctorate at Syracuse University in New York. She was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the Pi Lambda Theta, and Delta Pi Epsilon educational fraternities.

Upon her marriage to Dr. W.N. Coots and moving to Tulsa, OK, she launched a career of intensive voluntary community service, much of which led to significant changes in the policies and practices of social service agencies, both public and private, that were established to service human needs on an equitable basis. Among the community agencies so affected by her persistent prodding were the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, of which she was an advisor on minority affairs, the Tulsa Council of Social Agencies, where she was a board member, the Mayor's Committee on Community Development and Improvement, the United Way, and the Tulsa Public Schools during the period of initial integration. She also served on the board of directors of the following

organizations: The Gilcrease Museum, Planned Parenthood, The National Conference of Christians and Jews, The Salvation Army, The Tulsa Urban League, and the North Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. During the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, she served as the Director of the Jobs Unlimited program for the City of Tulsa, and later as the Director of the Tulsa Urban League. She was appointed the first black and the first woman on the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, and was appointed by then mayor LaFortune to a commission to study the economic development of Tulsa for the year 2000. She was awarded the "Keys to the Ghetto of Tulsa," by the Urban League, in recognition of her interest and work for the underprivileged. She had been the president of the Tulsa Medical Auxiliary, and the State President of the Auxiliary to the Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association (MEDEPHAR) of Oklahoma.

After her return to Richmond, VA, she immediately set about delving into community service activities. She was appointed, as the first woman, to the board of directors of the Greater Richmond Transit Company, culminating in her position as Vice President. She was also appointed to the budget committee and agency review committee of the United Way. Additionally, she served on the boards of the Richmond Urban League and the Richmond Community Hospital Foundation. She was very active at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she served on the finance committee, and was active in the Richmond Medical Society Auxiliary, having served as past president.

Theresa was an inspiration to many people, especially the young. She was eternally youthful, and had the uncanny ability to memorize everyone who came into her sphere. both male and female. It has been said that she was so successful in her community affairs and voluntary pursuits because she was such a dynamic individual. She was a prime example of how having a wonderful personality can truly propel one to great heights.

She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth G. Early of Sarasota, FL, a son, Dr. N. Vandervall Coots of Washington, DC and a step-daughter, Dr. Denise E. Holland of King of Prussia, PA. Also surviving are her sisters, Ada C. Henry and Evelyn P. Griffin of Washington, DC, Nannette H. Johnson of Harrisburg, PA, and Marion L. Taylor of Silver Spring, MD, her brother, Augustus L. Palmer of Washington, DC and a myriad of cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Howard University, Friday, March 19 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Howard University, Office of the Vice President and Secretary, 2400 6th St., NW, Washington, DC 20059, or to Ebenezer Baptist Church, 216 W. Leigh St., Richmond, VA 23220. endcol