Claude Lamar Coleman, Sr.

CLAUDE LAMAR COLEMAN, SR., age 82, of Mt. Airy, GA, died Sunday, December 14, 2008 at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Mr. Coleman was born on December 19, 1925 in Hiawassee, Georgia to the late Leamon Lavaughn and Emma Bell Arrendale Coleman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Louis Ronnie Coleman, his grandsons, Andrew Reece Coleman and Clayton Lee Coleman, his sisters, Della Shirley and Vella Little, as well as his brothers, Patrick, Verlyon, Wilson, Clyde, and Dorsey Coleman. Mr. Coleman was a United States Army Veteran having served during World War II. He was an Independent trucker for 20 years and retired after 22 years at Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute as a Corrections Officer II. Mr. Coleman was of the Baptist faith and was a member of the Mt. Airy Masonic Lodge #141 F & AM. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather; was a simple man and simple things made him happy. Mr. Coleman was an avid sportsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golf. He was an excellent gun smith. Survivors include: his wife: Lillian Vesta Payne Coleman, Mt. Airy, GA; his daughters and sons-in-law: Margaret Ann and Jerry Elrod, Clarkesville, GA; Janice and David Green, Demorest, GA; Martha Sue and Robert Chastain, Mt. Airy, GA; his sons and daughters-in-law: Claude Lamar, Jr. and Denise Coleman, Cornelia, GA; Jimmy Leamon and Kathy Coleman and Rex Stanley and Marsha Coleman, all of Mt. Airy, GA; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 from the Glade Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Gravely officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Masonic Grave rites provided by the Mt. Airy, Lodge #141 F & A M and full military honors provided by the Habersham County American Legion Post #84, the Grant Reeves V.F.W. Post #7720 and the Rabun County DAV Chapter #15. The family will receive friends at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, Georgia from 2 until 4 and 7 until 9 p.m. on Monday. Mr. Coleman will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday to lie in state until the funeral hour. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, VA 22312 or online at www.diabetes.org ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN THE CARE OF WHITFIELD FUNERAL HOME, SOUTH CHAPEL, BALDWIN, GEORGIA.