Najanna Ann Coleman, 82, of Milan, Tennessee passed away Friday January 24, 2020
after a long and fulfilling life.
Najanna was born on November 29, 1937 to Guy and Myrtie Belle McCartney in Milan,
Tennessee. After graduating from Milan High School in 1955. She married the love of
her life, Wenton E. Coleman in 1957, they had two children, Deborah and Scott.
Najanna attended West Tennessee Business College and Vanderbilt Banking School.
Her career in banking spanned more than 50 years, and included working for Milan
Banking Company, Bancorp South and Citizens Bank and Trust.
Najannas was passionate about service which is evident in her long list of community
involvement for which she was frequently recognized. She was named the Outstanding
Young Woman of the Year by the Milan Jaycees in 1968 and Milans Woman of the Year
in 1989. She was Vice Chairman of the 1976 Bicentennial Program and Chaired the
Gibson County Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Throughout her career she served on
The Tennessee State Commission of Real Estate Appraisal Board, Milan Housing
Authority Board, Gibson County Utility Board, Northwest Tourism Board, Gibson
County Fair Board, United Way Board and Allocation Committee, West Tennessee
Heart Association Board of Directors and the Gibson County Lake Authority. She was a
member of the Gibson County Bankers Association as well as the Ladies Auxiliary of
Veterans Foreign Wars for 20 years.
A staunch Democrat, Najanna was involved in politics not only in her hometown but
across the state and nation as well. She was quite active in the Gibson County
Democratic Party and served as a Delegate for the Democratic National Convention in
Charlotte, North Carolina in 2012.
Najannas greatest passion was for her family. She was the proud grandmother to six
grandchildren and was in the stands or audience cheering them on in whatever sport or
activity they were involved in. She became a great-grandmother in the spring of 2018 to
Asher James Patterson. Najanna attended First Baptist Church Milan for almost 30
years and was a member of Northside United Methodist Church in Jackson at the time
of her death.
Najanna was predeceased by her husband, Wenton and her parents, Guy and Myrtie.
She is survived by children Scott Coleman of Tallahassee, Florida and Deborah
Patterson of Jackson, Tennessee, son-in-law Charles Patterson, daughter-in-law Amy
Coleman, and grandchildren John Richard Patterson (Lisa) of Nashville, Jay Michael
Patterson of Houston, Texas, Joseph Patterson, Janie Michelle Patterson, Peyton
Coleman and Katie Coleman.
The family will receive friends and loved ones at a visitation to be held at Bodkin
Funeral Home, 2000 South First St., Milan from 11-1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28,
2020 with the funeral service to follow at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Oakwood
Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are John Richard Patterson, Jay Michael Patterson,
Joseph Patterson, Peyton Coleman, Steven Dillard and Don Farmer.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the following are appreciated: Northside United
Methodist Church, 2571 N. Highland Avenue, Jackson, TN and The Tennessee State
Veterans Home Humboldt, 2865 E Main Street, Humboldt, TN 38343.
Celebration of Life
Bodkin Funeral Home
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
1:00 PM
2000 South 1ST
Milan, Tennessee 38358