- Date Of Birth: September 1, 1912
- Date Of Death: June 21, 2012
- State: Maryland
Mildred Elizabeth Coates died peacefully, but reluctantly, on Thursday, June 21, 2012, as she slept. Her desire was to celebrate her 100th birthday in September of this year.
The eldest of two daughters born to the late Deaconess Irene Garland and Henry Garland, Mrs. Coates was a “born and bred” Washingtonian. She joined Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Southwest Washington under the pastorate of the late Reverend J. Harvey Randolph and at 14 years of age became the first organist for the youth choir under the tutelage of the late Alberta Randolph. At the time of her death, Mrs. Coates had the distinction of holding membership in Mount Moriah Baptist Church longer than any other member, 87 years.
After graduating from Dunbar High School in 1929, Mildred married the dashing Leroy Coates, now deceased, and they were blessed with two daughters, Jackie and Myra. Once her daughters were firmly grounded in their educational paths, Mrs. Coates went to work for the Potomac Electric Power Company Food Demonstration Unit. From that experience she developed her philosophy that cooking was the simplest and most gratifying of the arts. She loved to pamper the palates of her family and friends. She was known for her rolls, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, mushroom cakes, and Christmas Eggnog. In 1942 she went to work for the Federal Government and remained in government service until her retirement from the Defense Printing service in 1972 as a supervisor with the honor of sustained outstanding performance. Not ready to stop working, Mrs. Coates transformed her love for hats into a career by becoming a saleswoman in the hat department at Woodward & Lothrop Department Store. She accumulated her own extensive collection of hats: big hats, little hats, colorful hats, zany hats, fancy hats and just plain hats. She wore them all with aplomb.
As she matured in her walk with Christ, Mildred was guided by the Holy Spirit to join the Mount Moriah Senior Usher Board and ICUA of which she was a member for over 50 years. She loved her roles as Assistant Youth Advisor and later Youth Advisor to the Junior Ushers.
Her Christian walk included community involvement. She was a member of the Active Retirees, a group organized to support senior citizen programs. The Active Retirees were cited in the Washington Post July 1979 for the financial support they provided to the Stoddard Baptist Home.
One of Mildred’s greatest joys was traveling; by car, bus, train, plane or ship. She yearned to increase her knowledge about other cultures and places. She cruised to all of the islands, drove across the United States, bussed to Canada and Mexico, and flew to Europe. Her most memorable trip was to Oberammergau, Germany where she enjoyed the depiction of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Mildred also loved to drive and did so until she was 96 years old. She started driving in February, 1932 when there were few cars on the road, and even fewer women drivers. She found peace driving alone on long jaunts, finding new and interesting places and people, and relished the discovery of new vendors of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Mildred loved her family. She, along with her husband, was the model for her children in Christian living. Much of her life revolved around her girls and later their children. She was tough. She set the standards high, expecting her children to meet them, and they did. She taught them how to work, how to share, how to love, and how to give comfort to one another and to others. If one of them messed up, she would always forgive them, after a long discussion.
She was loved beyond measure by her children, Jacqueline C. Howell, MD and Myra King; her grandchildren, Cecilia Howell-Canada, MD of Wasilla, Alaska, Brian Wesley (Diane) of Southport, Australia, Lori Yarrish (Gregory) of Laurel, MD and Arthur Howell, III (Michele) of Silver Spring, MD; her great-grandchildren, Carmella C. I. Canada of Washington, DC, Lawrence A. Canada of Milwaukee, WI and Laila Yarrish of Laurel, MD.
She will be missed by a host of relatives, especially her two special cousins, Leoda Harvey and John Wesley Johnson; dear friends, Ada Gray and Leona Barnes; her devoted, caring neighbors, Sharlyn Grisby-Queen, and the Carter Family; and all who were blessed to know her.
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Scholarship Fund
1636 East Capitol Street, N.E.
