Helene S Coleman

Helene S. Coleman, 95, passed away peacefully at River Garden Hebrew Home in Jacksonville, on January 30, 2021. Mrs. Coleman was the only child of Fannie and Jerome Stern and was born and raised a Manhattan girl on the Upper West Side of New York City. She met the love of her life, Jack Coleman, at the age of 16 in Savannah while visiting family, and the rest, as they say, is history. She and Jack were married for 72 years, settling in Jacksonville in 1959 until his passing in 2018. She was the beloved mother of two children—Nancy C. Silverman and Philip R. Coleman (Robin Fleet)—and loving Nana to three grandchildren—Cheryl Olds (Kimo), Michael Silverman (Heather), and Sarah Fleet Coleman (fiance’ Nathan Singer).

Mrs. Coleman was a very well known figure in the Jacksonville Jewish and general communities for many years. With a resume a mile long, the highlights and awards of her life are too numerous to mention but here are a few: first inductee into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame; National Conference of Christians and Jews Silver Medallion Award; Jacksonville Woman of History Award; Florida Times Union Eve Award; Northeast Florida Mental Health Lifetime Achievement Award; and serving the National Council of Jewish Women as a National Board Member. The accomplishment she was most proud of was her founding of the Jacksonville Guardian Ad Litem program in 1980, of which she continued her involvement throughout her life. She was a progressive in every sense of the word, a lifelong Democrat, and a true feminist before the term was even popular. A great lady and role model who will be missed by all! Interment will be at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah in the family plot. Due to Covid, there will be no memorial service.

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL (904) 288-0025.