Marilynn Thornton Coats

Marilynn was born in Flint, Michigan, on April 4, 1930 to the late Mr. Emil Thornton and Mrs. Eula Beane Thornton. The family resided in Michigan and Alabama for a short time during the Great Depression because of Mr. Thornton’s job, but eventually settled in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood by the early 1940s.

Marilynn attended and graduated from Joseph E. Brown High School and worked as a bookkeeper in the banking industry for a short time after graduation and before children. She met her future husband, Mr. Jack Coats on a double date. He was not her original date. She once said that it was very clear by the end of the night that Jack was more interested in her and she was more interested in him than the two people with whom they had started the night. After that evening, they went on an official date with each other, fell in love, and were married on July 2, 1948. They shared 63 years together until Jack’s death in 2011.

Marilynn and Jack resided in the suburb of East Point during the 1950s and 1960s raising children and living the busy lives of parents and business owners. She excelled as a mother, cook, and homemaker-anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting Larry, Jackie, Donna, and Bill, visiting her gorgeous and immaculate homes, or eating some of her delicious recipes can attest to this fact.

In the 1970s, after three of their children had already left the nest, Marilynn and Jack moved to Douglasville, Georgia with their youngest son. Many of their beloved family and friends followed and lived in the neighborhood with them. They soon became members of Douglasville Christian Church and of the motorhome club known as the Georgia Ramblers. The couple spent much of their retirement criss-crossing the country with dear friends in their RVs.

It was also in Douglasville that Marilynn started to volunteer at the local hospital, then known as Douglas General Hospital. She first started by selling candy, magazines, cigarettes, and floral arrangements from a rolling cart to patients and visitors, but it was clear to her and a few others that the hospital needed a true gift shop. After some sweat and tears, they made it happen. Marilynn devoted 43 years of her lifetime running and serving in that gift shop. She was so admired that in 2015 the hospital named the gift shop “Marilynn’s Place” in honor of the woman who had devoted thousands of hours to a cause so dear to her heart.

One of her most treasured roles was that of Mimi to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She greeted each one every time she saw them by telling them they were her favorite. Thus, everyone knew they were the special one. Time at Mimi (and Pop’s) house meant unlimited playtime in the neighborhood, all the sugary snacks you could ever need, trips in the motor home or to Sam’s Club, Christmas morning magic, and staying up late watching movies and eating popcorn while Mimi cross stitched her latest work of art or marked another crossword off her list. Being with Mimi meant being loved unconditionally.

Marilynn is survived by her daughters, Jackie Woodham, and Donna Kimmons (John); her son, Bill Coats (Michele); grandsons, Mark Haunson (Stacy), Chad Coats; granddaughters Christi Coats, Julie Robbins (Ashley), Allison McCumber (Bennett), Susan Gorman (Justin), Jennifer Coats-Grimes and Shirl Morris; great-grandchildren Lauren, Ashley, Ashlyn, Emily, Brad, Bryce, Harper, Kendall, Jay, Bree, Zachary, Cora, Lucas,Hayden, Zach, and Chad; and great-great-grandchildren, Natalie, Sofia, and Annie.

Marilynn was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Coats; sons, Larry Coats and Doug Coats; granddaughters, Vicki Rudeseal and Lisa Powell; son-in-law Leonard “Snake” Woodham; daughter-in-law, Patricia Coats; and treasured dachshund, Peaches.

The family will receive friends Monday, April 21 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Whitley Garner Funeral Home Monday, April 21 at 11:00 am with Rev. Charles Gibbs officiating. Interment will follow at Rosehaven Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes and appreciates memorial contributions in her name to the general fund of Central Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia.

Whitley Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements of Mrs. Marilynn Thornton Coats.