Ella W. Coleman

Ella Weese Lockett was born to Mose and Eliza (Rencher) Lockett on September 30, 1938 in Sunflower, Mississippi. She was the fourth of seven children. Her mother passed away when Ella was only seven (7) years old, one day after the birth of her baby sister, Emma Marie. Ella went to Scooba, Mississippi for a short time to help care for her infant sister. She returned to Sunflower and became the nurturer, encourager, caregiver and cook of her family. Her older brothers, Felix and Tommie moved to East St. Louis, Illinois and later came back to move the entire family away from the South in 1954. She was introduced to the love of her life, O.C. Coleman, by Fred Stovall, whose families were united by their fathers who shared the same birthday.Ella united with O.C. Coleman and they were married on December 20, 1958. They moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 1960. Ella joined Morning Star Baptist Church for a brief period. After hearing about the many miracles being performed at a church down the street, Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, she joined Faith Temple in 1960 and her husband O.C. followed. They loved and served the Lord. She was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost and served faithfully as a missionary and mother under the leadership of Bishop Vernon Richardson, where she also led the Junior Mothers' Board. Believing the church should have activities to keep youth involved, Ella started a Junior Usher Board and helped establish a 4:00 Sunday broadcast that kept the youth at church for nearly all day on fourth Sundays. She also hosted pageants, talent shows, dinners, fundraisers and clothing drives to give to those in need. And how the kids loved her popcorn balls and candied apples. Growing up without her mother, Ella frequently experienced a lack of compassion. The adversity she and her siblings experienced caused her to develop a heart of gold and indiscriminate compassion--and her husband supported her all the way. They provided foster care for children in need. Ella would often leave her own family to help other new mothers through their first days of motherhood. She stayed for days at a time to care for a friend who had become paralyzed from the neck down. Their nieces and nephews became part of their household and family and accompanied them as if they were their biological children. It takes a special and loving husband to appreciate a wife with such a big heart. To their union was added Bobby, Michael, Eartha Jean, Anthony, Teresa, Felicia and Sheila. They also had two bonus kids, Veronica Walker and Mona Streeter. Ella and O.C. loved the Lord! Anyone in their house had to go to Sunday School and church. They insisted that their kids get an education and keep God first in everything they do. They taught their children that they could accomplish anything. They led by example, purchasing their own home in the early 1960's, acquiring other properties that they rented out in the 1980's, and purchasing vacant lots in their community as houses were torn down. Ella conducted Grandma's Day Care from her home until she and her sister Jo Pearl founded Preskool Universiti Day Care Center in the late 1980's, acquiring yet another property. She did not waste the gifts God blessed her with. When Creighton University's Black Law Students Association had no one to host its Black History Month dinner, Ella came to the rescue with her church friends and catered the entire event.Ella was preceded in death by mother Eliza (Rencher) Lockett, father Mose Lockett; brothers Felix and Tommie Lockett, and son Eddie "Bobby" Mosley. She leaves to continue her legacy her loving and devoted husband of 62 years, O.C. Coleman; sons Michael (Anita) Coleman and Anthony (Cynthia) Coleman of Omaha, NE; daughters Eartha Jean (Lonnie) Johnson and Sheila Denise (Rodney) Carr of Houston, TX, and Teresa Coleman Hunter and Felicia (Larry) Russell or Omaha, NE; Brother, James Otis Lockett of East St. Louis, Illinois; Sisters Jo Pearl Chapman and Lucille Lockett of Omaha, Nebraska, and Emma Marie (Burnell) Goldman of Chicago, Illinois; 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and others who affectionately called her Mom, Grandma and Sister Coleman.Celebration of Life service will be 12:00 P.M., Friday, May 21, 2021 at Joy of Life Ministries, 6401 North 56th Street, Omaha, NE 68104. Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation Thu, May 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Forest Lawn Funeral Home 7909 Mormon Bridge RoadOmaha, NE 68152 Service Fri, May 21, 2021 at 12:00 pm Joy of Life Ministries 6401 North 56th StreetOmaha, NE 68104 Interment Fri, May 21, 2021 at 3:00 pm Forest Lawn Cemetery 7909 Mormon Bridge RoadOmaha, Nebraska 68152 Service