Elizabeth "Beth" Bracken Coleman

Sarah Elizabeth Raney Bracken Coleman passed away on February 13, 2024. Beth was born September 29, 1930 in Marshall, Texas, the daughter of Flora Louisa Belt and Frank Tilley Raney. Following the deaths of her parents, she arrived in Charlotte, NC on her 2nd birthday to be the foster daughter of her great uncle and aunt, Marvin and Ida Raney Bracken and little sister to Anne Cowper Bracken.

Following her graduation from Central High School in 1948, she attended and graduated from Woman’s College of UNC (now known as UNC Greensboro) in 1952. While a student at WC, she met her future husband Herman O. Coleman, a veteran of World War II and graduate of UNC Chapel Hill. At the time of his death in 2001, he was a retired partner in the firm of Cherry, Bekaert & Holland CPAs. Following their marriage in 1953, they were blessed with the births of two sons whose marriages brought them seven grandchildren. Beth is also survived by ten great-grandchildren.

From early childhood, Beth loved to sing. At 16 years of age, she was allowed to join the adult choir of First Methodist Church; throughout her life, she shared her talent with every church where she was a member. She joined the newly organized Charlotte Oratorio Singers upon graduation from college. After moving to Matthews Glen in 2003, she continued to enjoy singing with the choral groups there.

Next to the joy of being a proud wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Beth’s greatest pleasure in her adult life was traveling with her husband. They began their love of traveling when camping with their young sons. Later they visited foreign countries as well as locations in the USA. Beth made many trips to England when she assisted her friend Kathy Hughes at Tudor House Galleries, a local antique shop.

Beth is survived by her sons and their wives: Frank Raney Coleman and wife Janet of Irvine, CA and Eugene Winston Coleman and wife Wendy of Davidson, NC. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses: Rebekah Coleman Long and husband Tim of Portland, TN, Anna Coleman Klein and husband Andrew of Kettering, OH, Laura Coleman Wright and husband Andrew of Atlanta, GA, Daniel Coleman and wife Mindy of Davidson, NC, and Grant, Steve, and Ashley Coleman of Charlotte, NC. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Elijah, Maddie, and Ian Long, Josiah, Elyse, and Eden Klein, Lucas and Morgan Wright, and Isaac and Levi Coleman.

A memorial service to celebrate Beth’s life will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 2:00 PM at the Matthews Glen Chapel. Memorials can be sent to the Samaritan Fund at Matthews Glen, 733 Pavilion View Drive, Matthews, NC.

**Please note any floral deliveries will need to be delivered directly to Matthews Glen Chapel.**