William Stephen Coleman

WILLIAM STEPHEN COLEMAN, age 79, died Friday, February 7, 2025, surrounded by his adoring family in Richmond, Virginia. Steve was born on August 29, 1945 to Clare W. Coleman and Almand R. Coleman, both deceased. He attended public schools in Lexington, Virginia and Charlottesville, Virginia. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Upon graduation in 1967, he married the love of his life, Jacqueline (Jackie) Henderson, of Richmond, Virginia. They began their life together in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Steve enrolled at Harvard Business School. He paused his graduate studies to serve a tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Vietnam before completing his MBA degree in 1971. His professional career ascended through a series of consulting and senior executive roles, taking the couple and their children to Los Altos, California, Sudbury, Massachusetts, Roswell, Georgia, Satellite Beach, Florida and Long Grove, Illinois before finally settling in Richmond, Virginia in 1996.

Following his retirement in 2004, Steve was able to fully embrace and share his creative talents. Steve treasured beauty and joy wherever he found them and appreciated each of the many gifts he was given over the course of his 79 years. His love was most apparent in his music. He was a singer and songwriter who expressed his affection best through his lyrics, penning songs for his wife, his children and grandchildren, and his extended family and friends. He was happiest singing at Three Chopt Presbyterian Church, where he was a regular presence in the choir and frequent soloist during Sunday services, and to his wife each evening in their Richmond home.

Steve served as a source of harmony in an often chaotic world and spent each of his days exactly where he was supposed to be. And so he is now, returned to the sheltering arms of his Creator, free from the worries of this world, and ready to join the choir of angels awaiting him.

Steve is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jackie; his son, Jeffrey S. Coleman (Judy) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and his daughter, Sarah C. Winstead (Chris) and his granddaughters, Jenna, Gracie, Lily, and Lydia Winstead of Forest, Virginia. Other survivors include his sister, Lisa C. Wood (Mrs. Frank A. Wood, Jr.) of Richmond, Virginia; brother and best friend, Edmund (Ned) P. Foster (Lynn) of Clifton, Virginia; Emily F. Birran of Chesapeake, Virginia and eight nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by brothers G. William Foster and Charles A. Coleman.

His funeral will be held at Three Chopt Presbyterian Church, 9315 Three Chopt Road, Richmond, VA 23229 on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. He will be interred at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery, 10300 Pridesville Road, Amelia Court House, VA 23002 on a date still to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Feed More, Inc., a food bank serving Central Virginia. Additional information can be found at Feed More’s website, https://feedmore.org.