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Betty Jean Coleman, the eleventh of eighteen children, was born on January 13, 1951, in Winnsboro, Louisiana, to the late Leander Coleman, Sr., and Frances Thomas Coleman. In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, James Otis Brown, and seven siblings, Leander Jr., Isaiah, Moses, Dorothy, Joshua, Lula (Peaches), and Charles.
Betty attended Waverly School of Franklin Parish, Franklin Parish Training School of Franklin Parish, and Carroll High School of Monroe City schools. She graduated from Northeast Louisiana University, now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe, in December of 1974 with a BS in home economics. In 1992, Betty was appointed as a licensed notary public until her passing.
Betty entered into holy matrimony with James Otis Brown on September 7, 1974. To this union, two children were born, JaTara Chanel and Jandrea LaChance. Together they worked, rearing their children in the fear of the Lord. She was employed at G.B. Cooley as an early interventionist, and she later worked as a community services specialist for the State of Louisiana in the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities until her retirement in June 2011.
Betty received Christ as her personal savior early on in life. In her teens, she united with St. Matthew Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. and served faithfully for over 50 years. Her church involvement included member of the praise team and usher board, Sunday School teacher, and deaconness. She was a member of the Christian Women Willing Workers #1 (CWWW #1) and CWWW #2, now renamed the United Christian Women’s Ministry (UCWM).
Betty served and led in the UCWM at all levels: local, district, diocese, and national. She led as the Southwestern Diocese Christian Education Facilitator. At the time of her passing, she was advisor to the 2nd District UCWM presidents and was National UCWM prayer call facilitator (renamed to prayer ministry facilitator). On April 23, 2013, Sister Brown became a licensed Missionary in the Church of Christ Holiness USA, fulfilling a lifelong calling. She established and organized Kids of the Kingdom at St. Matthew COCHUSA in 2021.
The theme of prayer has been a lifelong legacy in Betty’s life. The first Saturday of each month, Betty began a prayer call for women to support one another in praying for their families and husbands. The first Saturday call has been going on for over 20 years. Three years ago, Betty felt led to start another family prayer call that also doubled as birthday parties to celebrate those in the Coleman Family. This family prayer call has been conducted via Zoom every month since February 2020. Both prayer calls have changed the dynamic of the families for generations, putting God in His proper place.
Community service was another facet of Betty’s legacy. Through the years, she could be found volunteering her time with various ministries and community organizations. She served as secretary of the Monroe City Parks and Recreation board and was a board member for Family Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana. In her work with the Christian Women Job Corps of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, she mentored and encouraged single mothers. Until the time of her passing, Betty worked faithfully with Kairos Torch Ministry and the Freedmen Ministries Ministries. Betty’s legacy of loving God, community service, and fervent prayer will live on through: children, JaTara Chanel Brown Barnes (Delano), and Jandrea LaChance Brown; three grandchildren, Selah Barnes, Maysa Barnes, and Amira Sims; siblings, Elice Coleman, Bessie Jones, Henry Coleman, Peggy Coleman, Elijah Coleman (Dorothy), Mary Coleman-Hubbard (Nathaniel), Linda Coleman McDonald (John), Pearlie Coleman Wise (Willie), Curtis Coleman, and Gerald Coleman (Sheila); godson, Joseph Jenkins, former son-in-law Matthew Sims; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones will continue to celebrate her life.
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