Flossie Lillian Coker

Flossie “Lillian” Coker went home to Heaven the evening of December 27, 2021 at age 97. Lillian was born to James and Ethel Brown on June 1, 1924 in Magnolia, Kentucky. As a child, Lillian enjoyed playing with her older sisters Mae and Josie and their dog on the farm. She excelled at reading while attending school. She worked hard in the field picking off tobacco worms and hoeing weeds. Sunburns and worn hands were not easy on Lillian – still she maintained her beauty throughout her long life.

Lillian and Mae began dating the Stewart brothers and ultimately married them. Her 1942 marriage to Lawrence L Stewart Sr., in Elizabethtown, KY, brought the birth of Lawrence L Stewart JR in 1943. After their brief marriage Lillian moved to Louisville and landed a job at a cigar factory to make ends meet. No matter how tired she was from working, she took little Larry to the playpark. She always made room for fun.

Despite her early hardships, Lillian always remained positive, responsible and diligent. Photographs show her as an elegant woman with a nicely clothed son…not showing a clue that they were dirt poor.

Carl Thomas Coker entered Lillian’s life in 1947 and they married on June 26, 1948 in Jeffersonville, Indiana. In 1951 their son Terry Allen was born and the family bought their first home in Louisville in 1955.

In addition to being a dedicated & loving mother, Lillian enjoyed vacations, baking her famous pies and cakes, couponing and stocking-up the shelves of her pantry & cellar. She was an excellent seamstress and made beautiful clothes. Living during The Great Depression taught her about money: she handled the family finances like a pro as they always lived well and within their means. She and husband Carl enjoyed packing up their van and travelling across the U.S.

Lillian loves her family…years ago she could be heard saying:

“Do the job right the first time…it will save you time in the long run”

“That job needs more elbow grease”

“Now you’ve got to be patient with the young ones”

“You can have candy…I won’t tell your Mama”

“Stay on the pew and I’ll give you candy”

“Where is Stephanie ? “

“You got your red hair from me”

“Watch that temper”

“Grandpa knows how to fix that”

“Keep things nice and clean”

Lillian holds a deep & strong relationship with Jesus Christ and thoroughly enjoyed sharing The Bible with her grandchildren at bedtime. A sleepover with Nana/Grandma meant lots of fun and love.

She was Pentecostal and a member of Christian Assembly Church in Louisville for over 50 years, Sister Lillian faithfully volunteered for decades – cleaning the church weekly and supporting the ministry with tithes and offerings. She also helped with church conferences, fellowship dinners and was always willing to serve doing whatever was required.

Quick to forgive, quick to encourage and quick to help…Lillian’s lovely, feminine demeanor was Southern and soft-spoken. She truly manifested The Fruit of The Spirit in her life: Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Goodness, Patience, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Lillian now joins her; parents, husband Carl, sisters Mae Stewart and Josie Blevins, sons Harold Thomas Cruse and Garland Dexter Cruse, and grandsons Michael Alexander Stewart and John Michael Cannone in Heaven.

Lillian is survived by many loving family members, including her sons Lawrence and Terry, daughter-in-law’s Cecilia, Casey and Darlene, grandchildren; Stephanie (Jay), Lexi, Tim (Sandra), Lance, Cassie (Joe) and Brian, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins including her first cousin, Odean Taylor.

Her funeral will be on Wednesday, January 5th, at Christian Assembly Church, 9020 Stonestreet Road with interment following in Beth Haven Cemetery. Services will be officiated by Brother Lyle Gillespie. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3pm until 8pm at the Heady-Hardy Funeral Home, 7710 Dixie Highway and at the church on Wednesday from 12 noon until the time of service.