Annie Jean Coleman

Ms. Annie Jean Coleman, affectionally known as “Big Mama and AJ,” to Lewis and Virginia (Barnett) Coleman on Palmyra Island in Warren County, Mississippi, on January 8, 1943. Annie Jean passed away on Friday, October 6, 2023, at the age of 80 years.

Annie Jean was a lifelong resident of Saginaw, Michigan where she attended Saginaw Public Schools. She began her career as a nursing assistant at various nursing homes and retired from Saginaw General Hospital after 25 years of service. Annie loved cooking and spending time with her family; she especially enjoyed listening to her down-home Blues and fishing. She was a champion Bid Whist player; before her illness, she and her companion Joe would spend hours playing cards and teaching you various made-up games like “1500.” If you sat at the table with them, you would be there for hours. Annie also loved doing word search puzzles and watching crime stories on TV. Annie was a kind and loving person with a heart of gold; she was loved so much by her family and showed so much love in return. When Annie’s mom became ill, Annie became a second mom to her younger siblings and cared for them as her own. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Annie is survived by four daughters, Tina Arnold, Antoinette Bland, and Therese (Dion) Bland of Saginaw Michigan, and Michelle (Kenney) Stuckey of Jackson, Mississippi; two sons, James Lane, Saginaw, Michigan, and James Robert Bowens, Lapeer, Michigan; two granddaughters, a very special granddaughter, Deanna “Nay-Nay” Coleman, and Miracle Brown; eleven grandsons, Marcus, Eddie and Cetrice (Angelica) Bowens, Terrance Johnson, Kenneth (Samantha) Thompson, Erick (Amanda) Coleman, Torry (Jessica) Troy, Travon Ransom, and Micheau and Dion Jr. (Melissa) Bland; thirty-two, great-grandchildren; eighteen great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sandra and Virginia (Louise) Coleman; two brothers, Lloyd (Dinah) and Ronald L. Sr. (Venus) Coleman, Saginaw, Michigan; special aunt/sister, Elizabeth Owen; nine nieces, Cheryl L. , Rosemary, Keesha, ChaRaea and Katia Coleman, Cheryl R. (Chris) Morris, Bridgett (Alex) Fisher, Tonja (Reggie) McGee and Charmaine Louis; three nephews, Dederick R., Anthony C., and Ronald L. Coleman Jr; four aunts, Bessie Gordon, Vesta Coleman and Demary Burns, Las Vegas, Nevada, Mae Cathy Barnett, Saginaw, Michigan; one uncle, Earl Barnett, Orlando, Florida; special friends, Joyce Garrett, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lorraine McKinney, Saginaw, Michigan, Betty Swims and Wanda Lewis, Flint, Michigan, Chris Clayton, Saginaw, Michigan; many other family and friends too numerous to mention.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Virginia Coleman; brother, Charles Coleman; two sisters, Margaret Scott, and Marie Knox; one brother-in-law, Tommy Scott; a close friend, Marsha Madison; a very special granddaughter, Shavonda Johnson; and a close and loyal companion, Joe Wiley.

The family would like to express special thanks to the EMS and Emergency Room Dr. and staff, Receptionist Brittney, and NICU Critical Care Team, for your patience, kindness, and love extended to our family, and especially to her nurse, Jordan, for the excellent care during her time of distress; we would also like to thank the staff at Ascension St. Mary’s Medical Center, Dr. Bernadino, Dr. Bhanot, her grandson, Cetrice Bowens, Otha Barnett, and the Owens Family, for your love and support.