Joan Winesette Coggins (89) received her home-going Wednesday December 18, 2024, in
Tupelo, Mississippi. Born in Carroll County, Virginia, Joan's family eventually settled in Knoxville,
Tennessee after World War II. She met her husband, Elbert K. Coggins III (Sonny) at the
University of Tennessee, where she graduated with a nursing degree and was a registered
nurse. Once she had her children, she became a homemaker and was involved in several
activities outside the home. She was an officer in the East Tennessee Jayceettes, and helped
with the creation of the Head Start in Statesville, North Carolina. Moving with Sonny and the
boys to Pontotoc in 1978, she followed the boys' activities and put on the Miss Eaton Christmas
party for the supervisors each year.
An avid reader, Joan enjoyed spirited conversations on many subjects. Other interests were her
time painting and doing anything with her granddaughters. A special hobby of hers was
shopping and amateur interior decorating.
Joan is survived by her sons Mike Coggins (Linda) of Pontotoc; LTC (ret) Gary W. Coggins (Dr.
Patti Cruse Coggins) of Lexington, SC; her granddaughter Heather McNutt (David), her
granddaughter Jennifer Coggins; her great granddaughter Alyssa Claire McNutt, her sister,
Loretta W. Douglas of Huntsville, AL; her special cousins Janet Taylor, Sarah Kay Epperly, and
many other "Virginia" cousins, as well as Sonny's cousin Tenna Bustin Foale. She also leaves
many nieces and nephews, whom she loved like her own "kids."
She was preceded in death by her husband E.K. "Sonny" Coggins Ill, her father Jotty Foster
Winesette, her mother Ethel Burnett Winesette, a brother MAJ Jotty Randolph Winesette and an
infant brother Douglas Winesette.
A visitation for Joan will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at
Reeses Funeral Home, 2214 Austinville Road, Austinville, VA 24312. Following the visitation
will be a graveside service at 1:00 PM at the Burnett Family Cemetery where she will be laid to
rest in Austinville, VA.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association
