Dana Monique Coles

Dana Monique Coles, of Falls Church,Virginia,and formally of East Orange,New Jersey,departed this life on March 11,2011. She was preceded in death by her mother,Bessie Campbell Coles. Dana spent her formative years attending Immaculate Conception Catholic School. She graduated from Immaculate Conception in 1991. Dana matriculated at Lincoln University in Lancaster Pennsylvania receiving her Bachelors of Science Degree in 1995. She began her dancing career at the age of two. Dana loved dancing and posing for the camera. She was always a bright shining star and beauty queen. She was also a cheerleader. Her passions were her family,traveling,and shopping. With her warm personality,smile,and gift of talking,Dana made friends wherever she went. While residing in Lancaster,Pennsylvania in 1995,she was recruited into the Mangers Trainee Program at Fulton Bank. She held several positions while working her way up the corporate chain. She worked part-time as an Internal Auditor for the Keller Avenue-Days Inn & Suites,and was a wedding consultant with DD Catering & Event Planning. Dana was also employed wth Jay Group-Marketing and Fulfillment Company in Ronks,Lancaster County as an Account Manager/Trainee. Among her clients were Tiffany,Reebok,and Taylor Made. While in Lancaster,Dana was involved in many activities. She served on the Board of Directors of Crispus Attucks Community Center,Bright Side Baptist Church,Rites of Passage Program,and the Southeast Area Positive Image Action Group. Dana joined the Queen of Sheba Temple #137 of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order Elk of the World in 1999 in Lancaster,Pennsylvania. She held many offices and leadership positions in the local temple as well as the Pennsylvania State Daughters of Elks Association,where she was crowned Queen of the Pennsylvania Association in 2000. Dana was a dancer with the Imani-Edu Tainers African Dance Company,and a great cheerleading coach for many years with several Lancaster organizations. She loved working with young inner-city girls,teaching them cheering and dance. In 2008,Dana relocated to Falls Church,Virginiato be closer to her Virginia family. She was employed with Prudential Financial,where she was also loved. Dana was also a cheerleading coach in Falls Church. Dana continued her passion of giving and community service. Dana's love was contagious;she passed it on daily. She was always known as the "life of the party". Left to cherish loving memories are her father,Morris"Johnny" S. Coles,Jr.(Helena);sister,Shawn Barnes(Lateef);brother,Sanford Rhodes(Jennifer);four aunts.Willa Brown,Margaret Garcia(Saturnino);LaVerne Coles Lucas,Janet Coles James(Ronald),two uncles,Lawrence Coles,Sr.(Nora)and Ernest Campbell,godparents,Mr & Mrs. Michael Young,devoted friends,Bennett Callahan and Petra Simms;a host of cousins and other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Dana Monique Coles

January 11, 1973 - March 11, 2011