Obituaries - July 8, 2010 - Rev. John Wesley Coleman
The Rev. John Wesley Coleman, 84, a retired Elder, died July 8, 2010, in Philadelphia. A memorial service was held July 23 at Sharp Street Memorial UMC in Baltimore with the Rev. Dellyne Hinton officiating.
Coleman was a fourth-generation Methodist clergyman, born in Camden, N.J. He grew up mostly in Philadelphia, Pa. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and his Master of Divinity degree from the former Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa.
For four decades, Coleman was the pastor of a half dozen historic African-American churches, superintendent of the former Baltimore-southwest District, the first executive director of the Community Development Program at the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City, and after retirement as an assistant professor of homiletics (preaching) at the Methodist Theological seminary of Ohio in Delaware, Ohio.
In the Baltimore-Washington Conference, he began serving in 1977 at Sharp Street UMC in Baltimore, until becoming district superintendent in 1984. he retired in 1988. Prior to tht he had served churches and ministries from 1960 in the Peninsula, East Pennsylvania, and New York conferences.
A celebrated, eloquent preacher of the gospel, Coleman blessed many lives through his dynamic, creative pastoral ministry.
“I remember how important he was to the Community Developers Program,” said the Rev. Gil Caldwell of Asbury Park, N.J. “I reflect upon the insight, candor and humor that he brought to the Methodist/United Methodist family. And, in whatever ways I can, I want his life and ministry to empower me to re-dedicate my life and ministry to the best that I saw and experienced in him.”
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Katherine Coleman, in 2006.
Survivors include two daughters, Beverly C. Rawlins of Philadelphia, and Pamela Coleman of Baltimore; a son, John W. Coleman Jr. of Laurel; and a grandson, as well as a brother, sister, several in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Condolences may be sent to John Coleman Jr., 3573 Fort Meade Road, #614, Laurel, MD 20724.
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