Mattie Coleman

On November 20, 1921, Mattie Bell Griffin Coleman was born in Unadilla (Dooley County), Georgia to Solomon and Cora Killian Griffin; she was their gift from Heaven. In 1938, her parents left Unadilla and moved to Bessemer, Alabama, hoping to find employment in the local steel mill.

Mattie attended Carver Public School and Dunbar High School in Bessemer. Upon completing her education, she began working in the healthcare industry, first as a dental assistant and later as a nursing assistant at Bessemer Carraway Medical Center. When she retired, Mattie moved to Greenville, South Carolina to live with her daughter, Jo Ann and son-in-law, Joe.

Mattie Griffin married Joe Coleman and became Mattie Griffin Coleman. They had two daughters: Jo Ann and Ernestine the beginning of Mattie’s legacy.

Today, we mourn the death of Mattie Bell Griffin Coleman, surviving are one daughter, Jo Ann Coleman Long (Joe Paul); two grandsons, Adrian Jemal and Joseph Earl (Alexandra) Long; three great-grandchildren, Jamison, Sydney and Daquine (Imara); four great-great-grandchildren, Arami, Addley, Amia, and London; and a host of nieces and nephews.