Helen Monaghan

Helen Rosa “Wodie” Coleman Monaghan born November 19, 1923 died July 9, 2022. Her parents were Judge Stephen Beasley Coleman and Marietta Randolph Coleman. On August 31, 2019, she and her dearly beloved husband, Col. James Jackson Monaghan, would have celebrated 75 years of marriage. Their six children are: Marietta Coleman Monaghan, Catherine Beverly Monaghan Joyner, Anne Frances Monaghan Frost (David Wesley Frost), Helen Rosa Monaghan Read, James Jackson Monaghan, Jr. (Dr. Barbara Ann Findlen Monaghan), and Barney Andrew Monaghan (Virginia Paige Ponder Monaghan). Grandchildren are Meghan Coleman Frost, Marian Peyton Frost, David Monaghan Joyner, William Randolph Joyner, Mimi Elizabeth Joyner McCauley, Daniel Monaghan Read, Catherine Elizabeth Read, James Jackson Monaghan III, Austin Thomas Monaghan, Caroline Scott Monaghan, and Kelley Anne Monaghan. Great-grandchildren are Payton Savannah Moore, William Henry Joyner, and Allison Claire McCauley. She is deceased by her cousin Thomas Wilkes Coleman, who was raised by her parents as a younger brother to her. She is also survived by her brother Stephen Beasley Coleman, Jr. (Dr. Sumter Miller Carmichael Coleman) and nephews are Stephen Beasley Coleman III (Jana Hejdukova Coleman), Sammons Randolph Coleman (Rebecca LaVoune O’Neal Coleman), and William Wilkes Young Coleman.

Mrs. Monaghan attended Mountain Brook Elementary, Phillips High School, Sweet Brier College, and graduated from the University of Alabama where she received her B.A. degree and was a member of Kappa Delta. Wodie also enjoyed connecting with her friends in The Sewing Club, Grapevine Garden Club, New Era Study Club, Music and Art Club, Linly Heflin, and Colonial Dames. She was a long time member of St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, the Junior League, and was a member of the Junior League Choral Group for over forty years, the Civic Chorus, and a member of the Shook Hill Painters, The Village Painters, Maskers and Gaieties dance clubs.

A graveside service will be held on Friday the 15th of July, 2022 beginning at ten o’clock in the morning at Oak Hill Cemetery, located at 1120 19th St. No., Birmingham, AL.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Monaghan family.