Vera Mae Coats, 91

Mrs. Vera Mae Coats, 91 died at Covington County Hospital, November 7, 2023.

 

Mrs. Coats had a very affectionate and faith-filled spirit.  She was a faithful member of Providence Missionary Baptist Church and served in many capacities.  She enjoyed praising the Lord and singing along with the choir.  She attended and graduated from Smith County Training School, Taylorsville, MS.

 

She was the pillar of the Coats family and a loving and caring person as well as a devoted wife.  For many years, she was a caregiver to her beloved mother and husband preceding their deaths.

 

She instilled in her children to love one another and to be supportive of each other.  She and her children shared a mutual interest in watching television shows and sports.  She was an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.

 

She was the first black to be hired as a cook at Collins HIgh School and later became a dietician worker at Covington County Hospital for 25 years.  In 1995, she retired from the hospital, but continued to work part time for many years.  She formed lasting relationships with her coworkers.

 

During her 91 years of life, she never learned to drive, but it never stopped her from criticizing your driving or kept her from going to the grocery store.She loved the holidays, decorating for Christmas, laughing and wearing a smile on her face. Her favorite songs were, "Let's Stay Together as a Family' and" Stay on the Job."

 

She was preceded in death by her husband, F. C. (PeanutP Coats, Jr and two children, Baby Coats, and Linda Faye Bruce; her parents, Roy and Iola Kennedy; four sisters, Leola Kennedy Gordon, Josey May Kennedy, Mary Alice Kennedy, and Gussie I. Smith; brothers, Franklin Roosevelt Kennedy, Joe Kennedy, and Leroy Kennedy.

 

Survivors include, children, Jerry (Paulette) Coats, Petal, MS, Cheryl ( Al Oliver Jackson) Waterloo, IA, Felton Elizebeth) Coats, III, Collins, Mae (Michael) Miller, Charleston, SC., Ellis (Jennifer) Coats, Waterloo, IA, John(Melissa) Bruce, Sr, Collins, MS,Willie Coats, Collins, Tammy Coats, Collins, MS and Donald (Janice) Coats, Collins, MS. Two siblings, Esther Gray, Gary, IN and Larry (Daisy) Kennedy, Laurel, MS. Two sister in laws, Arsena Flowers, Collins and Dororthy Kennedy, Laurel, MS.  30 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and special friend Bennie Resse and special neighbor, Annelle McGee.

 

Active Pallbearers:  Terrance Anderson, Ramon Edwardfs, William George Flowers, Marcus Fox, Johnny Hawthorne, and Ricky McGee.

 

Honorary Pallbearers:  John Bruce, Sr., John Bruce, Jr., Daniel Coats, Nicholas Coats, Nicolas Coats, Jr., Seth Coats, Al Oliver Jackson, Sr., Oliver Jackson, Jr., II, Cory Jones, Michael L. Miller, MIchael R. Miller, Tatum Pickering, Timothy Williams, and Tony Willians.

 

Active Flower Bearers:  Nieces of Mrs. Vera Mae Coats

 

Honorary Flower Bearers:  Johnika Bruce, Ashley Coats, Martha Coats, Monica Coats, Shakayla Coats, Sharelle Coats, Teara Coats, Tenisha Coats, Abby Coats-Crawford, Ebonie Jackson, Deirdra Bruce-Johnson, Tomekka Barnes-Jones, Lisa McCollum, Latoya Owens-Miller, Marche' Miller, Eboni Coats-Pant, Taniera Robers, Bethany Spann, Angela Weekley.

 

Pastor Jeremiah Keyes was the Officiant.