Viola Verdamae Bain Coker was born on Sept. 30, 1940 in Nassua, Bahamas to Wilfred Bain and O’Rita Brown.
God unveiled his master plan and called Mrs. Coker to her final resting place on Dec. 22, 2014 at her home.
She graduated from Western Senior High School. Viola worked at Saint John’s Preschool as a teacher. She was also employed at the Shirley Street Theater as a manager before moving from the Bahamas to Miami in 1985. She lived in Miami, Fla. and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. before settling in Baxley.
Viola joined Saint James A.M.E. Church in Baxley in 2008 and she was a faithful member. She was a true servant of the Lord. During her membership she served as Stewardess, Sunday school teacher, pastor, pulpit aide, chairperson of the hospitality committee and member of the Women’s Missionary Society. She was also active with Concerted Services, Inc.
Viola will always be remembered as a kind and lovable person. People never had a negative word to say about her. Her favorite color was pink. She was an excellent cook and cooking was her passion. She loved to cook for her family, church family and the community.
Viola was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Beulah Bain and husbands, Harold Burrows and Charles Coker.
Survivors include four daughters, Dedrie Daniels (William) of Baxley, Vallis Johnson of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Nora McIntosh of Freeport, Bahamas and Vandera Capron of Nassau, Bahamas; one son, Ricardo Newman (Deloris) of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; two sisters, Shirley Ingram of Hollywood, Fla. and Velva Rahaming of Nassau, Bahamas; two brothers, Robert Bain and Maxwell Bain, both of Nassau, Bahamas; 12 grandchildren, Ahman Newman, Quentin Newman, Dervina Williams (Quache), Vonnesha Johnson, Amanda Daniels, Veshon Johnson, Valtavia Johnson, Valecia Foster, Keyonna Bain, Nadine Doresca, Nancy Doresca and Bernaria Rodgers; two great-grandchildren, Mikaela Singletary and Ayden Bain; a special niece; Karen Glendaria-Bastian of Nassau, Bahamas; a special cousin, Sheila Robinson of Sarasota, Fla.; special friends: George and Hazel Johnson, Bettye Isom-Lofton, Bessie Conaway, Almaree Miller, Larry Byrd, Teresa Hayes, John and Carolyn Wade, Genevieve Garnes, Alfred and Eleanor Abramson, Carolyn Reaves and Kathy Reaves. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 at St. James A.M.E. Church with the Rev. Lucretia J. Stinson presiding. The Rev. Douglas B. Stinson gave the eulogy. Granddaughters, Dervina Williams and Amanda Daniels, gave a “Tribute to Grandma”.
Honorary pallbearers were stewards, stewardess and trustees of St. James A.M.E. Church and Concerted Services, Inc.
Musical selections were rendered by Peggy Fletcher, Tammy Richburg and the choir.
Interment will be held Jan. 10 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Arrangements were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.