June 3 – Deacon Ben J. Coleman departed this life on Sunday, May 23, 2010 in Charlottesville.

He was born on July 6, 1943 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Ben and Bessie Coleman Sr. He joined the New Bethel Baptist Church at an early age.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Hattie; children, Constance (Edward), Anita (Donald), Selma, Chemice, Darren (deceased), Stacey (Leon-deceased), Jannifer (John), and Chanda (Alvin Jr.); brothers, (William-deceased) Laura of Meherrin, (devoted friend and brother) Alvin Tommy (Mary Ann) of Alberta; sisters, Beulah (Lewis) of New York, Jean (William-deceased) of Meherrin, (Diana-deceased) and Shirl (Gideon) of Meherrin; mother-in-law, Lizzie Watson; brothers-in-law, Samuel (Margaret), Curtis, Robert, Lewis, Larry, Lonnie, and Clifton (Delphine); sisters-in-law, Margaret (Nathaniel) and Gail (Joseph); aunts, Mary Anna Fowlkes of Richmond, Doris Coleman of Mechanicsville, and Rena Walton of Meherrin; 25 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; devoted friends, Rev. Coardes and Albert Brooks; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held Sunday, May 30, at New Bethel Baptist Church, Meherrin, with Pastor Haney Thomas Jr. officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Wilson Funeral Home, Keysville, served the family.