THE REV. DR. DON L. COLEMAN
was born in Gibson County, northwest of Medina, Tennessee on November 17, 1936 the son of the late Benjamin Caldwell and Ruby Delle Lewis Coleman.
On July 4, 1957 he was united in marriage to Jean Foust, who preceded her husband in death on December 1, 1984. On June 27, 1987, Don was united in marriage to Wilma Doss, who preceded him in death on March 19, 2016.
He graduated from Medina High School in 1955, and enrolled in Bethel College as a candidate for the ministry in the fall of 1955. Don graduated from Bethel in 1959, and enrolled in the Theological Seminary on Bethel's campus in 1959, where he graduated in 1964. That same year he would begin a career in the ministry that would span over 52 years and included three churches in our area, Adamsville Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church Savannah, and First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Savannah where he was a minister for eighteen years.
In 1968, he took a position with the National Board of Missions in Memphis. His accomplishments in community work include: Hardin County Community and Healthcare Foundation member and secretary, member on Board of Hardin County Skills, Board of Trustees-Bethel College 1991-2000, Past Patron Order of Savannah Eastern Star, 32nd degree Mason-Scottish Rite, member and past president of Pickwick Shrine Club, Adamsville Ministerial Alliance, past president and past chaplain of Hardin County Hospice Volunteers, grief counselor-National Funeral Home Association, past president-County Chapter of American Cancer Society, past chaplain-Humboldt Masonic Blue Lodge, past secretary-Hardin County Ministerial Association and past interim president of Bethel College.
The Rev. Dr. Don L. Coleman has two published pieces: The Role of Assumptions in Planning Board of Missions, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1970 and Mission Planning-Board of Missions, C. P. Church, 1970, Mission Discovery through Exploration and Planning.
He departed this life on April 30, 2018 in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 81 years, 5 months and 13 days.
The Rev. Dr. Don L. Coleman is survived by his six children, Don Phillip Coleman of Franklin, Tennessee, Linda Doss Harris and Stan, of Savannah, Tennessee, Sandra Jean Clausel and Eddie, of Savannah, Tennessee, Adam Foust Coleman and Cindy, of Savannah, Tennessee, Toni Renee' Trice and Lee, of Henderson, Tennessee and Jonathan Franklin Doss and Scott, of Atlanta, Georgia; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild.
In addition to his parents, Benjamin and Ruby Delle Coleman, his wife, Jean Foust Coleman and his wife, Wilma Doss Coleman, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Gardner and Virginia Heglar.