Sandhills_Sentinel

Queen E. Coleman 89, of Southern Pines, departed this life Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at Harrington Chapel, Southern Pines. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. Viewing and visitation will be one hour prior to service. Services are entrusted to Purcell Funeral Home & Cremation Services LLC

Queen Esther Wiggs Coleman was born to Deacon Henry David Wiggs and Mrs. Manila Freeman Wiggs on December 19, 1930, in Palatka, Florida in the family home at 1503 Washington Street.  She was baptized at an early age by her grandfather, Rev. John Henry Freeman in Live Oak, Florida. She went to live with her aunt Rose Tucker for a while in Miami, Florida. Aunt Rose had no children, loved little Queen and raised her as her own. 

She was educated in the Putnam County School District and was a graduate of Central Academy High School in Palatka. Soon after high school, she joined her sisters and brothers in Miami, Florida.

Queen Esther moved to New York City to make a better life for herself and her children. She and her son Richard eventually relocated to Southern Pines, North Carolina to be with her daughter, Phyllis and son-in-law Ruben. She enjoyed going out to play bingo and watching Lifetime movies with her daughter, Phyllis and traveling with her son, Richard to visit family in Florida.

She is survived by: two daughters, Phyllis (Ruben) McLean of Southern Pines, NC and Brenda Hutcherson of Orange Park, FL; grandson, Archie McCoy of Honolulu, Hawaii; granddaughter, Kirsten Core of Hamlet, NC; eight great-grandchildren, Sachi and Kathy of the Philippians, Cody, Michael, and Kai-ann of Honolulu, Kiomora, Kailand and Kyra-India of Hamlet, NC; brother, Alfred (Susan) Wiggs, of Las Vegas, NE; sisters-in-law, Marta Wiggs of Santa Ana, CA, and Inez Wiggs of Carson, CA; devoted niece and nephews, Melisa (Leon) Borders, William Hutcherson, and Thomas (Lucretia) Hutcherson; cousins, Robert (Camille) Tucker of Coats, NC, Geraline Davidson, and Billy Wiggs both of Plainfield, NJ, and Lillian Dickens of North Port, FL; special friends, Martha Nichols of Palatka, and Harold Bryant of Miami; and a host of other relatives and sorrowing friends.

Queen Esther was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Manila Wiggs; her husband, George Coleman;  granddaughter, Phyllis; son, Tyrone Richard; sisters, infant Jesse Mae Wiggs, Willie Mae Wiggs, Thelma Pinder, Annie B. Hutcherson; brothers, Henry, Buster, David, Sylvester, Alphonso, and Ulysses Wiggs; aunt and uncle, Rose (H.T.) Tucker.

Queen Esther’s love and devotion to her family, grands and great-grandchildren will never be surpassed. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

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