On Friday, March 26, 1926, Lela Akins became a new addition to the family of Matthew and Addie Scott Akins. She was the couple’s first-born child, joining an older sister and brother Mertie and Eddie Steadham. She grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas, in an area known as the pond; it was a close-clad neighborhood. She attended the Winters School and E. J. Campbell School.
At the age of 14 she moved to Kilgore, Texas to live with her beloved sister and her brother-in-law, Mertie and James Stoker. A few years later, she was introduced to a young soldier named Freddie Coleman. They fell in love and were married on June 5, 1944.
The couple settled in Kilgore, and welcomed their first child Carolyn Jo; Jerry followed; and Jackie was the third born. Wanda Joyce passed away a week after she was born. The births of Kenneth, Kathy Lynn and Fred Wayne completed the sibling roster. Her marriage spanned some 35 years until her husband’s death in 1979.
Jerry Don succumbed to injuries he suffered in an industrial accident in 1971. Fred Wayne died in an automobile accident in 1996.
As busy mother she found time to serve as a Girl Scouts leader, and she was active in the PTA. Another of her affiliations was the Kilgore Garden Club. Many believed that members of the club focused more on the “spreads” they enjoyed at the meeting than the flowers.
The Coleman family matriarch worked at Kilgore College and in the Kilgore ISD; and she, along with her husband, owned and operated Coleman’s Washateria for some years.
For many years she was a member of the Westview Church of Christ. For atime, she worshipped at the Chandler Street Church of Christ. At the time of her death, she was a member of the New Hope Church of Christ although her declining health made attendance very difficult.
So many wonderful memories are left to those who survive her: her Jacks playing prowess which bewildered her girls; her dancing as she ironed; her fondness of bid whiz; the sentence whippings that she dished out unapologetically when they were needed; her culinary skills, her unconditional love for family and friends; her unwavering faith in God, and the unabashed honesty she developed during her later days—some call it as having no filters.
Her mother and father and brothers Eddie Steadham, A.C. Akins, Willie Akins, McAlister Akins, and William Akins preceded her in death as did her beloved sister Mertie Stoker, and grandson Howard Jarvis Walker.
The rich legacy that Gran, as she is affectionately called by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, bequeaths will be cherished by her three daughters , son, three sisters, six grandchildren. Additionally, her eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren are also the beneficiaries of the legacy as are scores of nieces and nephews.
During one of her recent hospital stays, she remarked to a nurse, “I’ve had a good life.” Her family affirms this, and while her presence will be sorely missed, we celebrate that this wonderful, Christian woman is now free from the burdens of life—being consoled that while she is absent from the body; she is present with the Lord.
(from Cunningham Funeral Home website)
At the age of 14 she moved to Kilgore, Texas to live with her beloved sister and her brother-in-law, Mertie and James Stoker. A few years later, she was introduced to a young soldier named Freddie Coleman. They fell in love and were married on June 5, 1944.
The couple settled in Kilgore, and welcomed their first child Carolyn Jo; Jerry followed; and Jackie was the third born. Wanda Joyce passed away a week after she was born. The births of Kenneth, Kathy Lynn and Fred Wayne completed the sibling roster. Her marriage spanned some 35 years until her husband’s death in 1979.
Jerry Don succumbed to injuries he suffered in an industrial accident in 1971. Fred Wayne died in an automobile accident in 1996.
As busy mother she found time to serve as a Girl Scouts leader, and she was active in the PTA. Another of her affiliations was the Kilgore Garden Club. Many believed that members of the club focused more on the “spreads” they enjoyed at the meeting than the flowers.
The Coleman family matriarch worked at Kilgore College and in the Kilgore ISD; and she, along with her husband, owned and operated Coleman’s Washateria for some years.
For many years she was a member of the Westview Church of Christ. For atime, she worshipped at the Chandler Street Church of Christ. At the time of her death, she was a member of the New Hope Church of Christ although her declining health made attendance very difficult.
So many wonderful memories are left to those who survive her: her Jacks playing prowess which bewildered her girls; her dancing as she ironed; her fondness of bid whiz; the sentence whippings that she dished out unapologetically when they were needed; her culinary skills, her unconditional love for family and friends; her unwavering faith in God, and the unabashed honesty she developed during her later days—some call it as having no filters.
Her mother and father and brothers Eddie Steadham, A.C. Akins, Willie Akins, McAlister Akins, and William Akins preceded her in death as did her beloved sister Mertie Stoker, and grandson Howard Jarvis Walker.
The rich legacy that Gran, as she is affectionately called by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, bequeaths will be cherished by her three daughters , son, three sisters, six grandchildren. Additionally, her eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren are also the beneficiaries of the legacy as are scores of nieces and nephews.
During one of her recent hospital stays, she remarked to a nurse, “I’ve had a good life.” Her family affirms this, and while her presence will be sorely missed, we celebrate that this wonderful, Christian woman is now free from the burdens of life—being consoled that while she is absent from the body; she is present with the Lord.
(from Cunningham Funeral Home website)
On Friday, March 26, 1926, Lela Akins became a new addition to the family of Matthew and Addie Scott Akins. She was the couple’s first-born child, joining an older sister and brother Mertie and Eddie Steadham. She grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas, in an area known as the pond; it was a close-clad neighborhood. She attended the Winters School and E. J. Campbell School.
At the age of 14 she moved to Kilgore, Texas to live with her beloved sister and her brother-in-law, Mertie and James Stoker. A few years later, she was introduced to a young soldier named Freddie Coleman. They fell in love and were married on June 5, 1944.
The couple settled in Kilgore, and welcomed their first child Carolyn Jo; Jerry followed; and Jackie was the third born. Wanda Joyce passed away a week after she was born. The births of Kenneth, Kathy Lynn and Fred Wayne completed the sibling roster. Her marriage spanned some 35 years until her husband’s death in 1979.
Jerry Don succumbed to injuries he suffered in an industrial accident in 1971. Fred Wayne died in an automobile accident in 1996.
As busy mother she found time to serve as a Girl Scouts leader, and she was active in the PTA. Another of her affiliations was the Kilgore Garden Club. Many believed that members of the club focused more on the “spreads” they enjoyed at the meeting than the flowers.
The Coleman family matriarch worked at Kilgore College and in the Kilgore ISD; and she, along with her husband, owned and operated Coleman’s Washateria for some years.
For many years she was a member of the Westview Church of Christ. For atime, she worshipped at the Chandler Street Church of Christ. At the time of her death, she was a member of the New Hope Church of Christ although her declining health made attendance very difficult.
So many wonderful memories are left to those who survive her: her Jacks playing prowess which bewildered her girls; her dancing as she ironed; her fondness of bid whiz; the sentence whippings that she dished out unapologetically when they were needed; her culinary skills, her unconditional love for family and friends; her unwavering faith in God, and the unabashed honesty she developed during her later days—some call it as having no filters.
Her mother and father and brothers Eddie Steadham, A.C. Akins, Willie Akins, McAlister Akins, and William Akins preceded her in death as did her beloved sister Mertie Stoker, and grandson Howard Jarvis Walker.
The rich legacy that Gran, as she is affectionately called by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, bequeaths will be cherished by her three daughters , son, three sisters, six grandchildren. Additionally, her eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren are also the beneficiaries of the legacy as are scores of nieces and nephews.
During one of her recent hospital stays, she remarked to a nurse, “I’ve had a good life.” Her family affirms this, and while her presence will be sorely missed, we celebrate that this wonderful, Christian woman is now free from the burdens of life—being consoled that while she is absent from the body; she is present with the Lord.
(from Cunningham Funeral Home website)
At the age of 14 she moved to Kilgore, Texas to live with her beloved sister and her brother-in-law, Mertie and James Stoker. A few years later, she was introduced to a young soldier named Freddie Coleman. They fell in love and were married on June 5, 1944.
The couple settled in Kilgore, and welcomed their first child Carolyn Jo; Jerry followed; and Jackie was the third born. Wanda Joyce passed away a week after she was born. The births of Kenneth, Kathy Lynn and Fred Wayne completed the sibling roster. Her marriage spanned some 35 years until her husband’s death in 1979.
Jerry Don succumbed to injuries he suffered in an industrial accident in 1971. Fred Wayne died in an automobile accident in 1996.
As busy mother she found time to serve as a Girl Scouts leader, and she was active in the PTA. Another of her affiliations was the Kilgore Garden Club. Many believed that members of the club focused more on the “spreads” they enjoyed at the meeting than the flowers.
The Coleman family matriarch worked at Kilgore College and in the Kilgore ISD; and she, along with her husband, owned and operated Coleman’s Washateria for some years.
For many years she was a member of the Westview Church of Christ. For atime, she worshipped at the Chandler Street Church of Christ. At the time of her death, she was a member of the New Hope Church of Christ although her declining health made attendance very difficult.
So many wonderful memories are left to those who survive her: her Jacks playing prowess which bewildered her girls; her dancing as she ironed; her fondness of bid whiz; the sentence whippings that she dished out unapologetically when they were needed; her culinary skills, her unconditional love for family and friends; her unwavering faith in God, and the unabashed honesty she developed during her later days—some call it as having no filters.
Her mother and father and brothers Eddie Steadham, A.C. Akins, Willie Akins, McAlister Akins, and William Akins preceded her in death as did her beloved sister Mertie Stoker, and grandson Howard Jarvis Walker.
The rich legacy that Gran, as she is affectionately called by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, bequeaths will be cherished by her three daughters , son, three sisters, six grandchildren. Additionally, her eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren are also the beneficiaries of the legacy as are scores of nieces and nephews.
During one of her recent hospital stays, she remarked to a nurse, “I’ve had a good life.” Her family affirms this, and while her presence will be sorely missed, we celebrate that this wonderful, Christian woman is now free from the burdens of life—being consoled that while she is absent from the body; she is present with the Lord.
(from Cunningham Funeral Home website)
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