Charellise Townsend Coleman passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024.

Charellise was born on June 19, 1937 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the first of six children, to Elvira (Fleming) Townsend and Charles Townsend Sr.

She completed high school in Brooklyn, New York and went on to attend Talladega College, where she joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and met her future-husband, Tracy R. Coleman, Sr. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she later married and had her first child. The family moved to Denver, Colorado and had two more children before settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where she lived for most of her life. In St. Louis, she worked for the St. Louis City Public Schools, obtained a Master’s Degree from Washington University in St. Louis and went on to work for the Kirkwood Public School system. She moved to Chicago, Illinois in 2018 and in 2023, she moved to her last residence in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Charellise was an active member of her sorority in St. Louis and Chicago. She was also a member of Zonta International and The Order of the Eastern Star in St. Louis. She enjoyed traveling, cruises, visiting her family, and listening to music. Her ever-changing list of hobbies included sewing, beading, collecting jewelry and artwork, growing plants, and decorating her homes. She had a vibrant personality that helped her make friends wherever she went and was known for her love of conversation, sense of humor, bright clothing and eclectic shoe collection.

Charellise was preceded in death by her father, Charles Townsend Sr., her mother Elvira Townsend, and her sister Stephany Ferguson.

Her memory will live on in the hearts of her children Charellise (Lee) Coleman, Tracy R. Coleman Jr., and Lanelle Coleman, her grandchildren Anthony R. Coleman and Andrew R. Coleman, her siblings, Charles Townsend Jr., Myrna Peterkin, Elvira Moon, and Alex Townsend, her cousins, nieces and nephews.

Her ashes will be interred at Old Storm Baptist Church in North Augusta, South Carolina, on February 23, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Talladega College at Talladega College · GiveCampus.