Funeral service for Ardith Williams Coates, 67, of Alexandria, AL, formerly of Ohatchee, AL and Madison Heights, VA will be 2:00 pm, Friday, June 15, 2018 at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary with Rev. Todd Stewart and Rev. Jerry Starling officiating. Burial will be held at Oak Bowery Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 prior to the service at the funeral home. Mrs. Coates was gloriously healed and went to be with her Lord and Saviour June 9, 2018.
Survivors include her sister, Paula Nunnelly (Gregory); brother, Brian Williams (Greg Robertson); and her nieces, Paige Shaddix, Hollie Singleton (Alan), Maggie Ginn (Will); her great-nephews and niece, Taylor, Cade, Rowan, Ramsey, Ridge, Hank, Miles and Sadie Hollis. She is also survived by her father’s loving second wife, Palmer Williams, and her aunt, Mary Williams.
Mrs. Coates is preceded in death by her husband of twenty-one years, Joseph M. Coates and her parents, Theron and Evelyn Williams.
She was a graduate of Ohatchee High School, Jacksonville State University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She began her career teaching in public school in Alabama. As God called her into fulltime Christian service, she accepted a position in Virginia as State Acteens Consultant and was the director at Camp Viewmont in its final summer and the first camp director at Camp Little Cross Roads. She was a member of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia where she expressed her love of missions and WMU by serving as director of GA’s, Acteens, and WMU. She spent countless hours leading WMU in conferences, lock-ins, retreats, and mission studies. She also served as Sunday School Director and as a choir member. Ardith enjoyed choir tours and a mission trip to Tanzania. Later she continued to serve Virginia Baptist as Director of Guest Services at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. Most recently, her love of teaching combined with her servant’s heart led her to Liberty University. At Liberty, she taught English classes where she was able to influence young people as they prepared to serve Christ in their chosen professions. She retired in 2016 with 19 years of service. After retirement, she built her dream home and moved back to Alabama to be near family and friends. She will be missed by those who loved her, so “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:2.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, Lottie Moon or Annie Armstrong offerings at First Baptist Church of Saks 4723 Saks Road Anniston, AL 36206.
