James E. Coleman Sr.

James Edward Coleman, Sr., 82, was born on March 6, 1939, in Halifax, Virginia to the late Mattie Victoria Coleman and George Wilson Fleming. On May 23, 2021, Jimmie as he was called departed this life. At a very young age he was baptized at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Virginia. For fifty-one years he was married to Lovie Mae Collins Coleman who predeceased him on October 3, 2018.

He is the father of James E. Coleman Jr. (Nyree), Derrick D. Coleman, Felicia Collins, and Thelma T. Carter (Tom). Beloved grandfather of 11: Ariel, Jahari, Rashad, Quron, Kaliel, Antonio, Jayson, Kayla, Tyler, Whitney and DeVar. Beloved great-grandfather of 5: Daytwan, Aiyanna, Haven, Deondre and Delonte. He is also the godfather of Akeem Guthrie.

James attended the Halifax Training School in Halifax, Virginia where he ran track. In 1963 he was drafted into the United States Army and attended the US Army Signal Corps School where his specialty was Radio Relay Carrier Attendant. In 1965, he was stationed in Alaska until he left the military with an honorable discharge. He was a meat cutter at Tobin Packing Company for several years. He worked at the Albany Stratton Veteran Medical Center in Albany in facility management services until his retirement in 2020.

James had one sister Hameedah Faaried "Tate " and enjoyed spending time with his cousins Hayes, Robert, Charlie Louis, Rema, William, Harris, and Walter who were like brothers and a sister. Cousin Robert said, "We saw him as the big brother because of his caring heart."

James loved to tell stories about growing up in Virginia. One story he told his children was that he was part Blackfoot Indian. So, in 2020 his granddaughter gave him the Ancestry DNA kit as a Christmas gift and to his surprise there was no Blackfoot ancestry. The results showed more of the African and some European ancestry: 34 % Nigerian, 24% Cameron, Congo, and Western Bantu, 16% Benin & Togo, 11 % England and Northwestern Europe, 7% Scotland, 4% Mali, 2% Sweden 2%, and Ivory Coast & Ghana.

James loved bowling, baseball, fishing, playing cards, and dancing. He would take the children fishing and Lovie would tell him not to take them in the boat. He would say "Okay," but he and the children got in the boat to catch the most fish. He would tell the children not to tell. Someone did. He loved to watch Kung Fu shows and cartoons with his children, but they knew since they had only one tv when he came in he would change the channel, even if it was a good show. In later life, he took great pleasure in the occasional trips to the casino with his son, Derrick.

Jimmie was the personal driver for Lovie for fifty-one years because he always wanted to be on time. He enjoyed putting things together for Lovie. Also, he like to cook and bake. When the grandchildren arrived, he became their babysitter when needed and their personal driver to school and afterschool activities and events. He enjoyed attending the children's, grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren's sporting events, school plays, and dance recitals.

James leaves to cherish his memories are children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and brothers-in-law Eddie, Derriel, Frederick, and Theodore Collins, and sister-in-law Vickie Sparks, and friends of the family.

James E. Coleman will be remembered as a man who lived life and loved his family

A homegoing service will be held at First Congregational Church 405 Quail St, Albany, NY, Saturday May 29, 2021. A visitation will be held from 9am-11am, with a celebration of life to be held at 11am.