Mother Mary Jones Coates

MOTHER MARY JONES COATES was born December 25, 1943, the third of twelve children to the late R.T. Jones, Sr., and Lela Mae Jones. Mary attended elementary school at Cole Lake M.B. Church in Isola, Mississippi. She graduated from O.M. McNair High School in 1965. Mary was united in holy matrimony to Curtis Coates on September 24, 1965. She began working at O.M. McNair but only for a short period. She left employment to help her husband run Coates Stop & Go Grocery Store and the family laundromat. In 1979 Mary began to work at First Baptist Church alongside her husband. She was a cook. Mary retired after working there for thirty-five years. Mary was very family oriented. She devoted herself to raising and teaching spiritual values to her children. Mary was an outstanding cook. Family and friends would travel from far and near to sit at her table and feast. She loved to cook. Mary spent her leisure time cooking and studying the word of God. Mary accepted Christ at an early age at St. Paul Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Elder Isadore Slack. Mary later moved her membership to Redeem Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder Mose Walker, Jr. She also served under the leadership of the late Elder Edward Carver and until her death she faithfully served under Elder Calvin Ball at Redeem COGIC. Mary served as kitchen coordinator, head cook, Sunday School teacher of the adult class, and a Mother on the Mother Board. Mary’s favorite song was “So Glad I’m Here, I’m Here in Jesus Name.” Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Curtis Coates Sr.; five brothers, R.T., Melvin, Tommie Lee, Robert, and Clearia; and two sisters, Martha and Rebecca. She leaves to cherish her memories, nine children,Pastor Curtis (Brenda) Coates of Greenwood, MS, Denise (Wardell) Henley, Deborah (Pastor Charles) Edwards of Belzoni, MS, Elder Cedric (Janie) Coates of Memphis, TN, Linda (Robert) Setzer of Clayton, NC, Ganon Coates of Belzoni, MS, Martha (Mackey) Wright of Pensacola, FL, Sarah (Mark) Myles of Isola, MS, and Esther (Cole) McGinnis of Gluckstadt, MS; one stepson, Curtis Dabney of Belzoni, MS; one stepdaughter, Glenda O’Conner of Milwaukee, WI; twelve grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two brothers, A.T. (Mary) Jones of Cleveland, OH, and Lonzia Jones of Isola, MS; two sisters, Delicious (Calvin) Bush of Indianola, MS, and Irene (Robert) Juitt of Southhaven, MS; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends; and her best friend, Martha M. Hart.

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