Quenston Andre Coleman, 69, of Chattanooga, TN went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, July 20, 2022. He was born to Walter Coleman, Sr. and Mary Helen Bowerman on August 24, 1952. Growing up in Chattanooga, Quenston attended Joseph E. Smith Elementary, Riverside Jr. High, and Chattanooga High School. He later transferred to Tennessee Preparatory School in Nashville where he played football, became a member of the Key Club, and served as a Legislative Page at the Tennessee State Capitol. Following graduation, he attended Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN and married his high school sweetheart, Andrea Joyce Williams on August 27, 2022, which would have been Quenston and Andrea’s 50th wedding anniversary.
Quenston devoted his life to taking care of his family, friends, and community. He was a man on a mission who sought to defend those who could not defend themselves against an unjust system. His integrity, courage, and purpose led him to join the Unity Group of Chattanooga and serve as Chairman for the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. During his 17-year tenure with the Unity Group, he established the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast and Birthday Party Celebration for Children. Having a passion for community involvement, Quenston was a member of the Hamilton County Young Democrats, Lions Club, Industrial Development Board of Chattanooga, NAACP, Chattanooga Police Department Internal Review Committee, and the Tennessee Technological University College of Business Alumni Committee. He served as President of the Greater Brainerd Area Jaycees, JFK Club of Chattanooga, and Parent Teacher Association at Henry L. Barger Elementary, Chattanooga School For The Paideia And Performing Arts, and Chattanooga High School Center For Creative Arts. Wanting to evoke change, he sought elected positions on the Hamilton County School Board, Chattanooga City Council, and the Tennessee State Legislature.
Much like his community activities, Quenston’s career path reflected his natural inclination to help others. He managed retail store operations for G.C. Murphy’s (Gadsden, Alabama and Chattanooga, TN) and Big K (Cleveland, TN and Dalton, GA). He created employment opportunities as a Private Industry Council (PIC) Summer Jobs Youth Program Coordinator and
Unemployment Claims Specialist prior to retiring from the State of Tennessee Department of Correction, Probation and Parole.
Quenston loved to laugh and joke, but he was very serious about his relationship with God. At age 8, he was baptized at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga. He later joined the Church of God Sanctified in Cleveland, TN with his wife, Andrea and served on the Board of Trustees.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Coleman, Sr. and Mary Helen Bowerman; stepfather, Willie George Chapman; godparents, Marcellus and Odessa Greene; uncles, Fred Coleman, John Bowerman, Nathaniel Bowerman; aunts, Ruby Coleman, Susie Bowerman, Louise Bowerman, Zenobia Bowerman Graham; sons, Walter Coleman, III and Quenston Coleman, Jr.; nephew, Derick Lamar Chapman; cousins, John and Ella Mattie Cantrell, Jr., Charles Hughley, and Maudry Dee Robinson.
He is survived by his wife, Andrea Joyce Coleman; daughter, Nicole Denise Coleman; sister, Anita Antionette Chapman, great-niece, ShuDericka Janita Chapman; cousins Ronald (Cynthia) Coleman, Martha Jeannetta Foster, Fred Calvin Coleman, Brenda White, Johnny (Joyce) Garth, Jr.; Alfred Cantrell, Sr., Sabrina Bowerman, Nathaniel Bowerman, Jr., godsister Marsha Mills, godbrother Morris Greene, and a host of relatives, neighbors, and friends.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 13, following visitation from 9 AM - 2 PM at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404, (423) 622-9995