Tenth Generation

21201. Essie Florence Sandidge was born on 17 July 1922 in Amherst Co., VA. Essie died in Lynchburg, Independent City, VA on 26 May 2018 and her remains were cremated.⁴⁷⁹²²

Essie Sandidge Coleman, 95, of Lynchburg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at her home, surrounded by family members.

Essie was born in Amherst County on July 17, 1922, the daughter of the late Leana Coffey Sandidge and Cameron Blair Sandidge. She was also preceded in death by two sisters: Lorene Fifer and Dorothy Floyd, and by four half-brothers and sisters: Herman and Walter Sandidge, Alpha Coleman, and Virginia Camden.

Essie was a graduate of Natural Bridge High School and Phillips Business College. During World War II, she proudly supported the men and women in the Armed Services through the USO. After the war, she and a close friend went on a blind date with two young men, both named Bill Coleman. Once she understood the men were not playing a game of some kind, she relaxed and had fun with her Bill Coleman. That blind date led to a series of official dates, a courtship, and the most loving marriage two people could ever hope to create, nurture, and enjoy. The couple was married for 68 years.

Essie worked for several different businesses during her career, but the job that brought her the most joy was serving as financial secretary at her family’s church, Rivermont Avenue Baptist. She retired from her position at the age of 70, just when the church office was transitioning to the use of computerized spread sheets, stating at the time, “I’m too old to have to learn a new way to do what I have been doing all these years.” In addition to her work for the church, Essie also served on the board of Virginia Baptist Hospital for 8 years, was a Cub Scout den mother, and a Sunday School teacher.

By far, the “jobs” that brought her the most joy were being a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt to all those in her immediate family and serving as a second mother or another sister to countless friends. She was always caring and compassionate, always able to see and speak the truth in a loving way, always knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.

Essie leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Dr. William Coleman; her two sons: Al Coleman and his spouse, Lisa, of Lynchburg, and Dr. George Coleman and his spouse, Sandy, of Waverly; her four grandchildren: Dr. Cam Coleman of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Will Coleman and his spouse, Lauren, of Rocklin, California; Carey Coleman of Los Angeles, California; and Stuart Coleman of Indianapolis, Indiana; and her great-grandson, Harvey Coleman, of Rocklin, California. She is also survived by twin sisters: Marolyn Cash and Carolyn Withers and her spouse, Bob, of Buena Vista. Additionally, she is survived by her brother-in-law, Mace Coleman, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and by 16 nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

Essie Florence Sandidge and William Albert Coleman were married on 18 June 1949 in Lynchburg, Independent City, VA.⁴⁷⁹²³ William Albert Coleman, son of George Thomas Coleman and Winnie Rosser, was born on 29 April 1923 in Lynchburg, Independent City, VA. William died in Lynchburg, Independent City, VA on 8 February 2019 and was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg, Independent City, VA on 16 February 2019 .⁴⁷⁹²⁴

CPL US ARMY

WORLD WAR II∼During WWII, Dr Coleman was a member of Co. D, 311th Infantry, 78th Division and served in the European Theater.

Dr. William Albert Coleman, 95, of Lynchburg, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 8, 2019, at his home, surrounded by family and friends. Dr. Coleman was born in Lynchburg on April 29, 1923, the son of the late Winnie Rosser Coleman and George Thomas Coleman. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Essie Sandidge Coleman; two brothers, G.T. and Glenn Coleman; and a sister, Winnifred Coleman Moore.

Dr. Coleman's life was a classic example of those of the greatest generation. As a child of the Great Depression, he, his brothers, and his gang of Rivermont friends found plenty of ways to stay busy and usually productive delivering papers and doing any other odd jobs to make some money to support their families. Later in life, Dr. Coleman admitted to his children that some acts of mischief and curiosity were committed as well climbing up the Centenary Methodist Church steeple, just because it was there; trying to shoot the street car cable from its wired connection, just to see what would happen; and painting a friend's car white when all cars of that era were black, just to see the expression on the victim's face when the prank was discovered. With Ruffner playground essentially in his backyard, Dr. Coleman fortunately diverted some of his energy to more traditional passions football and baseball.

Dr. Coleman graduated from E. C. Glass High School in 1941. Following graduation, he enrolled in Emory and Henry College, but his education was interrupted in order to serve his country in World War II. Dr. Coleman enlisted in the Army and served in the 78th Division, Company D, 311th Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest, the longest continuous battle in the country's history, and was wounded in the Allied attack of the Siegfried Line in 1945. After recovering from his wound and after the German surrender, he was assigned to post-war service in Berlin.

Upon completion of his service, Dr. Coleman returned to Emory and Henry, graduating in 1947. While at Emory and Henry, Dr. Coleman was president of the Varsity Club, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Beta Lambda Zeta, and the Pan-Hellenic Council. He was inducted into the Blue Key Honor Society and Pi Gamma Mu, the National Social Science Honor Society. Dr. Coleman then enrolled in the School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia. He graduated in 1951, and returned to Lynchburg, where he practiced dentistry until April 29, 1988, the day of his 65th birthday.

Dr. Coleman and Essie met on a blind date. That blind date led to a series of official dates, a courtship, and a loving marriage that lasted for 68 years until Essie passed away 8 months ago. Their constant and complete devotion to one another was clearly visible to all. Dr. Coleman served his community in a variety of ways. For example, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons during the school year, he provided dental care to school-age children who did not have a family dentist. There was a dental chair and equipment set up in the school administration building, and he provided care to students of all ages from throughout the city. He was also a man of strong faith and a member of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church throughout his life. Dr. Coleman served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and member of two pastor search committees.

Dr. Coleman leaves to cherish his memory two sons, Al Coleman and his spouse, Lisa, of Lynchburg, and Dr. George Coleman and his spouse, Sandy, of Waverly; his four grandchildren, Dr. Cam Coleman of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Will Coleman and his spouse, Lauren, of Rocklin, California, Carey Coleman of Los Angeles, California, and Stuart Coleman of Indianapolis, Indiana; and his great-grandson, Harvey Coleman, of Rocklin, California. He is also survived by his brother, Mace Coleman, of Charlotte, North Carolina; his sisters-in law, Marolyn Cash and Carolyn Withers and her spouse, Bob, of Buena Vista. Additionally, he is survived by 16 nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. The fact that he lived long enough to witness his two sons and four grandchildren graduate from college brought him immense pride.

The family expresses its gratitude to Dr. Tim Dixon, former pastor of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church, and his wife, Barbara, for being dear friends for many years and for traveling to Lynchburg to lead Dr. Coleman's memorial service. The family also expresses its thanks to Generation Solutions for providing loving care-givers, to Centra Hospice for helping Dr. Coleman and the family through these last months, to the Meals on Wheels volunteers for being more than just the providers of meals, and to the neighbors and friends who have meant so much to the family for so many years.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Service, 427 Graves Mill Road. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 15, 2019, from 7 until 9 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Service as well as from 1 until 2 p.m. on Saturday, prior to the service.