Tometta Beryl Purcell

Thometta (Tometta) Berly Poindexter, Coleman, Purcell. Entered into this world March 13, 1943. To Julius and Clara Poindexter (both deceased). She was raised in a large family with four sister and five brothers. Mabel, Julia, Charles, Jean, Robert, Mary, Truman, Herman, and William. Seven have passed before her.

Affectionately known as Tommie and Auntie. She grew up in the public school systems, attending schools #23, #17, and Crispus Attucks High School. She was a active member of Allen Chapel AME Church as a young girl. Singing in several choirs. She and a few of her high school friends formed a singing group in high school and sung at different functions.

At one of the functions is where she met and fell in love with West L. Coleman. They were married August 23, 1959 and their union produced four children. Starlotte, West Jr., Wade and Shannon. They came up with a poem as each child came into the world. “The Star of the West by the milky white Wade is Shannon.”

Being a military wife, she would sometimes take care of other families children. No matter where they were stationed, she would find something to keep her busy, like being a den , mother for a boy scout troop in Kaldwell Germany.

Upon returning to Indianapolis, she worked for the Red Cross Salvation Army until she was called in to work for the United States Postal Service in 1971. Throughout the years she worked as a clerk and philatelic specialist until she retired in 2007. As a clerk at Bacon Post Office, she met and fell in love with Dennis Purcell (Deceased)

Tommie loved to work for her church, just as hard as she did her job. She was a member of the Mass Choir, A Sunday School Teacher, Trustee, Steward, and a Stewardess. Her all time favorite was playing on the Allen Chapel Bowling Team.

After her retirement, she worked in public schools as a Foster Grandparent. Helping the teachers with small children in large classrooms. She received Congressional Recognition from Andre Carson on December 2, 2011, for her work as a Foster Grandparent.

Tommie was very loyal to her family, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She bought a van for the sole purpose of taking her grandchildren to movies, museum, parks, parades, and anything else you can think of she took them. But she didn’t just stop at her family, she would make sure some of the children at church made it to some fun places. Her favorite was the Indiana State Fair, she wasn’t leaving there until she had a corn on the cob, elephant ear, and a polish sausage.

Tometta was called home on April 25, 2025. She leaves behind her brother Robert (Sylvia), and her sister Mary. Her children Starlotte (Michael), West Jr., Wade, Shannon (Cornelious Jr.). Her grandchildren Tarryl Sr., Derik Sr. (Ashley), Sheenea (Kenny), Joshua, Devon, Courtney, Brandon, Amber, and Kelley (Kenneth Sr.) Great-grands Darian, Giovanni, Celia, Chanelle, Derik Jr., Brandon, Malik, Lundyn, Prime, Blake, Apollo, Kenneth Jr., Brielle, Wynter, Damien, and Tarryl III. A host of nieces and nephews that she loved dearly, and a host of surrogate sons and daughters in loves that she collected through her children and church over the years.

A visitation for Tometta will be held Sunday, May 11, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208. Following the visitation will be a celebration of life at 2:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208.