Gueron Coker

On Oct. 7, 2018, at 10:28 a.m., Gueron Lawrence Coker faithfully answered his call home to be with his heavenly father. He started his life’s journey as a blessing to Romaine and Gartha B. Coker on Dec. 19, 1940. Through the course of his journey he was educated at Howard High School (class of 1958) after which he joined the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged upon completing his tour of duty. He attended Morehouse and Oakwood Colleges and majored in pre-med and ministry respectively. During the early period of his life he expressed his interest in music as a saxophone player and became a connoisseur of jazz music; a passion of which he passed to some of his children. Mid-life he moved to Massachusetts, studied education at U Mass-Amherst and then served as an educator of special needs children and adults for twenty years. If asked to summarize he was a highly intelligent, free thinker with charisma which seemed to impact many. He was preceded in death by: (father) Romaine Coker; (mother) Gartha B. Coker; (sister) Beulah Thomas; (brother) Albert E. Coker; and (nephew) Corey B. Coker. He leaves to cherish his memory children, Anthony G. Coker, Kristi Coker-Milner (Roderick), Minister Alan V. Coker (Felicia), all of Chattanooga, Derek R. Coker (Monica), of San Jose, Calif., and Nicole Coker (Jorge), of Easthampton, Mass.; grandchildren, Courtney Benton, Antonio Coker, Lekeura Coker, Bria Coker, Shakara Coker, Mia Coker, and Alma Avendano; great-grandchildren, Jekhia and Peighton Owens; attentive and supportive sister-in-law, Dora Coker; and nephew, Albert E. Coker II; niece and nephew, Catherine Smith (Burlington, N.C.) and Eric Holmes; former wife, Jerry Coker-Tatum; friends, Mark Destler, Oscar Nance; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. The body will lie-in-state after noon on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Interment: Chattanooga National Cemetery. Arrangements by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 622-9995.