Margaret E. Coleman

Margaret Coleman, affectionately known as Aunt Margaret, slipped peacefully into eternal rest in the early morning of Monday, April 6, the day after the celebration of Easter.

Margaret Miles Coleman was born the youngest of 13 children on August 22, 1922, in Davis Corner, Princess Anne County, Virginia to Alex and Ellen Miles. Her siblings included four brothers, Waverly Miles, Clyde Miles, Alex Grayson Miles, and Frank Miles. Her eight sisters were Sarah Miles, Creasie Ferebee, Julia Miles Garfield, Elcora Harold, Lena Gordon, Roxie Dildy, Annie Ferebee and Ida Willie. 

After losing her father at age 4 and her mother at age 2, she lived with her sister Elcora Harold for a while, then she moved with her eldest brother Waverly and his wife for a while. She was later raised by her older sister, Julia Miles Garfield. She attended Saint John Elementary and graduated from Princess Anne County Training School in 1941. Upon graduation, she attended Norfolk Polytechnic College (now Norfolk State University) on Bank Street in Norfolk for one year.  At the time, Norfolk State had only one building.  

She met the love of her life, Lester Coleman, and they married in 1944. Lester worked as a longshoreman (with ILA Local 1240) until his death on September 6, 1988.  She and Lester were the owners of several businesses. They owned a cigarette stand in Virginia Beach and a novelty shop at 823 Church Street in Norfolk.  Margaret and Lester resided on Markland Drive in the Georgetown section of Chesapeake.

Margaret worked in the Norfolk Naval Air Station tool shop for a while. Her sister Julia Garfield wanted her to become a lawyer or a nurse.  Margaret realized Julia’s vision for her and became a nurse at Norfolk General Hospital. She worked at Norfolk General Hospital as a nurse for 23 years. She retired on April 1, 1989.

Margaret was very active in her church, New Saint John AME, where she was a lifelong member.  She raised money to buy tables and chairs for the multipurpose building. Before COVID, she set goals to raise funds for her church. She was a person who liked to work and even at 103 she loved to be active.

Margaret had many passions, including bingo. She played regularly well into her nineties.  She was a woman of wisdom and grace with an impeccable sense of style. She wore high heels in her nineties. She was witty and a straight shooter. Among her many awards and accolades, for her 100th birthday, she received a proclamation from the mayor of Virginia Beach.

Her biggest passion was her family. She attended every major family event – reunions, weddings and birthdays. She loved her family and was our matriarch.  Her family, in turn, loved her. In her later years, she had many caretakers among friends and family members. Special thanks to her nephew, Ronnie Hawkins, who helped make her final years as comfortable and pleasant as possible with much love and patience.

Among her eldest nieces, Dorthymae Gaines, Catherine Harold Bell and Deloris M. Harold, she leaves to cherish her memory and legacy a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Margaret had not only a life well lived but a life well loved. She leaves a lasting legacy of love, laughter, faith and family.