Mrs. Phyllis T. Coleman

Phyllis (Tillye) Cocroft Coleman was born on May 13, 1945, to the union of Willie T. and Lousie (Gee) Cocroft in Conway, Mississippi. She was the oldest of six children. During the great migration, the Cocroft family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when Phyllis was two years old. However, every summer, she and her brother Robert would return to Mississippi to stay with their maternal and paternal grandparents for the entire summer. During the summer of her seventh birthday, Phyllis and her brother were baptized in Mr. Joe Nathan's pond, joining the Center Hill Baptist Church under the auspices of Rev. Cross. Upon her return to Milwaukee, she united with Metropolitan Baptist Church under the tutelage of Rev. E.M. Kelly Sr. Phyllis received her formal education within Milwaukee Public Schools, attending Lincoln High School, where she met the love of her life, Woodrow Coleman Jr. After graduating, she secured a position with the Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company, and Woodrow went off to serve in the Vietnam War. Upon his return, they were married on November 4, 1967. Phyllis was blessed with a thirty-year career with the phone company, including a period serving as the church secretary for Metropolitan Baptist Church. In the year 2000, she began working for the Center for Veteran Issues, LTD (CVI). This eventually turned into a second career. She became the Director of Human Resources and served in this capacity for eight years until her health began to fail. Phyllis enjoyed reading, watching home renovation programs, and politics. She really liked talking politics with her brother, Robert, and her sister, Wanda. Phyllis truly had a winning personality. She always had smiles for people and an unmatched laugh. Most people said they would hear her before they would see her, and this would make her laugh even louder. She had an infectious personality. Phyllis Cocroft Coleman departed this life on June 18, 2026. She was preceded in death by her: parents, Willie T. and Lousie (Gee) Cocroft; 3 brothers, Robert A. Cocroft, Mark A. Cocroft, and Timothy D. Cocroft; niece, Natasha S. Hampton; and great-niece, Ana Moffet. She leaves to cherish her memory: husband of over 50 years, Woodrow Coleman, Jr.; son, Craig (Makeba) Coleman; daughter, Jennifer (Corey) Odom; granddaughters, Jessica Coleman, Jenna, Camryn, and Chelby Odom; sisters, Wanda D. Cocroft and Judy L. Cocroft; sisters-in-law, Jacqueline D. Cocroft, Judy (Halbert) Algee, Linda Dunn, and Brenda Newell; aunt, Helen F. Leflore; uncle, Alton Campbell; adopted brother, Harrison (Shirley) Addison; special friends, Jackie Thurmond and Cedric Addison; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

Mrs. Phyllis T. Coleman

May 13, 1945 - June 18, 2026