Mary Coleman

Miss Sue Coleman, as she was known to her hundreds of former students, Sue Sue to family members, lived a remarkable life in service to the children of Clarke County. She hoped aloud on several occasions that she could live to be the oldest woman in Grove Hill. Mary Susan Haskew Coleman died at age 104 years old in the Jackson Health Care Facility on December 10, 2020. Whether she met her goal or not, her life was filled with love and joy in her long teaching career and in her family and friends.
Miss Sue was born to parents Peter Alexander Haskew and Mary Eva Dacy Haskew on May 27, 1916. She spent her childhood helping with house and farming chores. She would often recall pleasant days playing with her sisters, Vivian Haskew Finley Gordon (d. 2003) and Mary Leona Haskew Patterson (d. 2009). Their sister Helen Clair Haskew died in 1920. Miss Sue's little girl pretend name was Mrs. Jones, Viv's Mrs. Smith, and Onie's Mrs. Brown. The sisters loved playing dolls and fixing up the playhouse. All three girls doted on their brother John Hoffman Haskew (d. 1998).
A strong influence on Miss Sue's life who led her into a teaching career that spanned over forty years was her aunt Miss Kling Dacy. The two taught for many years together in the Whatley School. Both were beloved by their students for their innovative teaching methods. Miss Sue went on to teach in several other Clarke County Schools including the elementary school in Grove Hill and at Wilson Hall School in the 1970's. Her students kept up with their favorite teacher over the years. She always loved when they would mention her favorite literary character and theirs -- Brer Rabbit and his friends created by Joel Chandler Harris.
The love of Miss Sue's life was her husband Daniel Dean Coleman (b.1905 d.1984), the postmaster in Whatley. When he asked if she wanted to live in his mother's house, she replied, "I don't like two-story houses." Danny built Sue a lovely home around which they created floral splendor with pansies, daffodils, and hundreds of azaleas. Generations of Whatley youngsters loved Miss Sue and playing in the branch down the hill from her house. Sue Sue and Dan Dean did not have offspring of their own, but countless children loved them both.
Included in those countless children are her nieces and nephews. They have many memories of dining at Sue Sue's finely appointed table and eating her delicious Southern specialties. Vivian's daughter Susan Gordon Jones (Randy) was Sue Sue's most faithful advocate during her time in the nursing home. Susan passed away in April 2020. Sue Sue lost her beloved nephew James Dewey Finley in 1963. Nephews John Cobb Gordon (Brenda), William Stephen Gordon (Annell), and Daryl Hoffman Haskew (Brenda) also have many fond and funny memories of their aunt. Sue Sue was a loving great aunt to Scott Haskew (Portia), Dana Haskew Thompson (John), Marcus Gordon (Dana), Rachel Gordon Garrison (Rob), Ellen Gordon Pettis (Brett), Will Jones (Christie), Mary Dacy Jones, Nathan Gordon (Heather), and Carrie Gordon Davis (Bennett). She is also survived by twelve great, great nieces and nephews. The whole newspaper would be required to list all of the Coleman clan of nieces and nephews whom Sue Sue loved as her own.
Sue was a faithful member of the Whatley United Methodist Church until it closed. She then moved her membership to the Grove Hill United Methodist Church. She belonged to several organizations including those affiliated with her long teaching careers where she enjoyed being with fellow educators whom she held dear. Her close friends were ladies in the bridge club. Big occasions in her life were the Whatley Reunions and the CCHS Old Timers Reunion. Her long life and career were blessed by a diverse host of people.
Graveside services will be conducted on Sunday, December 13 at 2:00 PM at the Dacy Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Miss Sue would like to have known that donations were given to the Child Advocacy Center in Grove Hill because of her love for all children. Her family is forever thankful for all that the caretakers and other employees did to make Miss Sue comfortable and loved during her years at the Jackson Health Care Facility