Carole P. Coleman

Carole Parker Meekins Coleman, the daughter of the late Harriett Parker and Jeremiah Meekins, was born on March 14, 1924 in Baltimore, Maryland at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She departed her joyous life on July 23, 2008 surrounded by her lovingly devoted children, Michelle C. Coleman, Clifton Dwight Coleman, Jr., and his fiancée Kathleen Miller. Carole, fondly known as “Bud”, was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. She graduated early from Dunbar High School in February, 1941 as valedictorian of her class. She subsequently graduated from Cortez Peters Business School in 1944 and became a protégé of Walter Dixon, the head administrator of the school. She gave generously of herself during the WWII years by working at the gas mask factories in Aberdeen, Maryland and dancing with war bound soldiers at USO halls throughout the region. Carole also had the distinguished honor of christening the Navy hospital ship The U.S.S. Tranquillity in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1944. While bowling with her best friend Odessa Dixon, Carole met her late husband, Clifton D. Coleman, Sr. Carole and Cliff were married on September 21, 1949 and shared a devoted and loving life together for 46 years. Cliff and Carole were blessed with two children, Michelle and Dwight. Professionally, Carole engaged in three careers. After graduating from Cortez Peters, she worked in several business positions including being the first Black bookkeeper at Provident Hospital. In 1959, Carole returned to school and received a Bachelor’s degree from Coppin State College in 1963. She began teaching at Edgecomb Circle Elementary School and later moved to the alternative education program at Harbor City Learning Center teaching mathematics. Carole actively participated in the MBABSE (Metropolitan Baltimore Alliance of Black School Educators) and NABSE (National Alliance of Black School Educators) organizations. She served as MBABSE’s treasurer for many years and later as the secretary for two years. She was also a commissioner for special projects for NABSE and thoroughly enjoyed attending the annual conferences with her colleagues. In 1986, Carole retired from teaching after 23 years of service. At that time, she began to focus full time on her third career as a free lance agent working with the Peirson Travel Service well into her seventies.

Tributes

Carole P. Coleman

March 14, 1924 - July 23, 2008