April 21, 2016 Gladys Tarver Coleman, a lifelong native of Fairfield, Alabama, was born May 15, 1917. She departed this life on April 21, 2016. She was married to the late Jerry D. Coleman, the first black elected President of the Fairfield City Council. Mrs. Coleman is most known for her tireless and never ending diligence to getting people registered to vote and getting the vote out. She is one of the founding members of the Fairfield Democratic Women, an organization that was started over sixty years ago and is still going strong today. The organization is about educating voters and gathering information about candidates in order to help the voter make informed decisions. This organization has helped get many candidates elected. From Presidents to Council Members, Judges and Congressman. All of which she knew personally on some lever. Although Voter Education was her passion, she was also passionate about children's education. She received her BA degree from Miles College, her Master's degree from Alabama A & M University and had other educational training from Tuskegee University and University of Southern California. She taught many students, not only the subject matter, but things that weren't in text books. She retired from teaching in the Jefferson County and Birmingham School Systems. She was the first black member appointed to the Fairfield Board of Education during the most crucial years of school integration. She was appointed by the State Superintendant of Education to serve on the accreditation committee of Elementary Schools in 1975. She was a member of Alabama and National Education Associations and The American Federation of Teachers. She is a proud and dedicated member of the Miles College Alumni Association. She enjoyed attending the football games whenever she could. Mrs. Coleman's next love was for her church , Miles Chapel CME. She has been a member all of her life and she served in many capacities such as Choir member, Christian Board of Education, ladies Guild, Missionary Society and Steward Board. Her political affiliations were numerous. She served as president and was a member of the Fairfield Democratic Women, as member of the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee and the State Democratic Executive Committee. She was delegate to the 1984 National Democratic Convention in San Francisco, the 1992 Convention in New York and the 1996 Convention in Chicago. She also attended the first inauguration of our Nation's first black president, Barack Obama, in Washington, DC. She believed that educating our people and encouraging everyone to vote was her life calling. She would say it was our duty to make life better for us here on earth. She has lived through times that many of us read about in text books. Segregation, integration, hearing Dr. King speak, participating in marches, getting the right to vote, paying poll taxes, getting taxes, getting death threats, civil rights and coming through tougher than ever and even more determined. She led a full and active life. She enjoyed music, Big Bands, Jazz and the Temptations. She loved to shop and buy clothes. But most of all she loved her family and she spent a lot of her time ensuring that they were taken care of and had all they needed. She was preceded in death by her husband of forty-four years, Jerry D. Coleman. Her brothers, Lawrence (Alberta), William and John Tarver. She leaves to cherish her memory, her niece/daughter, Judy Tarver Blount (Horace), nephew, Courtney Tarver (Carolyn), nephews and nieces, Jerry Coleman, Lewis Coleman, Laura, Lillian and Tony Coleman, nieces, Yvette Bostick Reynolds, Crystal Bostick Harrell, Alistaire and Miriam Blount, great nieces and nephews she adored Ebonie, Dominique, Camisha, Jameelah, Janel, Camille and baby Paisley. She also leaves a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral service Wed. Apr. 27th at 11:00 AM from Miles Chapel CME Church, 5220 - Myron Massey Blvd, Fairfield, Alabama. Burial in Zion Memorial Gardens. Visitation Tuesday 1-6 PM. Arrington Funeral Home, Inc. Directing