William R. Coleman

William R. Coleman, 75, a resident of Early County Nursing Home, passed away there on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

Memorial services will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel on West Main Street with Rev. Jay Reppert officiating and Byrd Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to a favorite charity.

Mr. Coleman was born January 16, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan to Buford and Frona Wilson Coleman and lived the early years of his life there where he played minor league baseball. He later moved to South Carolina for several years where he was employed as a salesman with Noland Company. He resided in Chattanooga, Tennessee for many years where he raised his family. He had been a resident of Blakely, Georgia since 2003. Mr. Coleman was a Mason and was of the Baptist faith. He was a loving and devoted father and his greatest accomplishment was raising his 4 children.

Mr. Coleman is predeceased by his parents and a brother, Jack Coleman.

Survivors include four children, Billenda Nabors (Stephen) of Chattanooga, TN, Kevin Coleman (Cindy) of Colquitt, GA, Kim Armstrong (Ross) of Dothan, AL and Clay Collins (Anna) of Dothan, AL; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Carol Sterling; five brothers, Bob Coleman, Jim Coleman, John Coleman (Sandy), Larry Coleman (Jody) and Pat Coleman (Mary); several nieces and nephews also survive.