James "Jim" Coleman

James "Jim" Coleman, age 87, passed peacefully from this life on May 30, 2019 at his home in Oceanside, California. He was born January 19, 1932 in Minden, Louisiana to Hattie Mae Williams and George Roosevelt Sterling. Raised in Dallas, Texas by his mother and step-father Bishop Coleman, he was the oldest of nine siblings.

After enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1952, Mr. Coleman was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe, Territory of Hawaii. Mr. Coleman became an ordained Minister of the Church of God in Christ at the Garden of Prayer Church of God in Christ, Waimanalo, Hawaii. It was there that he met his beloved, Shirley Mae Laie Turne, while both served in the ministry.

James and Shirley were married on May 9, 1959 at New Era Community Church, Honolulu, Hawaii and there birthed two children, Gayle and Duane before receiving orders in 1963 to Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton, California. The family moved from Hawaii to Oceanside, CA where they bought a home, and were blessed with three more children, James, Lori and Chandra.

Mr. Coleman served proudly in the United States Marine Corps for 20 years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1973.

After his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Coleman became a New York Life Insurance Company Agent and subsequently retired from New York Life with 20 years of service. After that retirement he worked for Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in Escondido, California and Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside, California.

Mr. Coleman was also Co-Pastor of St. John Church of God in Christ, La Jolla, California and enjoyed being a long time member of the Kiwanis International service club in Oceanside, which allowed him to continue in the service of others until he decided to retire fully at age 79.

Mr. Coleman wore his U.S. Marine Corps globe and anchor insignia proudly on his red U.S. Marine Corps baseball cap after retirement and maintained that pride, bearing, discipline and command presence throughout his lifetime. Mr. Coleman embodied the U.S. Marine Corps motto "Semper Fi" always faithful to the end.

Mr. Coleman was a beloved husband, "Daddy", Grandpa and Great Grandpa. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Shirley Mae; his children, daughter Gayle Jones (Jeffrey); son Dr. Duane Coleman (Julianne); son James M. Coleman; daughter Lori Elderts; and daughter Chandra Lynch (Patrick). He is also survived by twenty-eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and former daughters-in-law, Kathi Gibson Coleman and Carole Micozzi.

His surviving siblings are Irma Jean Dodson, Joann Coleman, and Rose Marie Banks and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Mr. Coleman is predeceased by his parents, Hattie Mae Williams Fields and George Roosevelt Sterling; stepfather, Bishop Coleman; brothers Horace Coleman, Henry Earl Coleman, Clinton Hamilton and Wilbert Sterling; and sisters Hattie B. Chambers and Christine Williams. He is also predeceased by granddaughter Jade Laie Kanoelani Coleman and sons-in-law Kenneth Elderts and Randall Goodlett.