Mrs. Margaret (Rice) Coleman

Margaret (Rice) Coleman was born on January 14, 1934, in Pacolet, South Carolina to the parents of the late Steven Rice (father) and Sabra (Rogers) Rice (mother). Margaret was baptized in the Gethsemane Baptist Church at a young age in Pacolet. She attended Zion Hill School as a student. Margaret was gifted, talented, and skillful. She was a natural seamstress and would often create fashionable garments for her family like the Proverbs 31 women in the Bible. 

Margaret’s storytelling was an art beyond compare. She could captivate an audience from beginning to end.

However, the best true story was how she captivated John Roosevelt Coleman (late husband). One day Margaret was picking peaches behind Coleman’s Store (not related to John Coleman) when a young man taking his lunch break from hauling pulp wood, looked up and saw a pair of beautiful legs on a ladder in a tree. That man was John R. Coleman...and the story continues. They married June 14, 1952.This union of 57 years lasted until John’s death in 2009. 

Margaret was employed with the East Cleveland School System for approximately 17 years as a Lunch Assistant at Prospect Elementary School where she developed lifetime friendships. She was elated about being able to work hard at her job and earn a salary, so she could help her family. She also enjoyed being around the children at Prospect Elementary. Previously, she had worked a few years, with the Independent Towel Company. Margaret was very frugal with her finances and was the ‘Queen of stretching a dollar’. Often, Margaret would listen to her favorite musical artist, Nate King Cole. She became an amazing cook and no one could touch her sweet potato and fried apple pies. Margaret made the best pear preserves and people would ask her to save them a jar. She also love picking blackberries and making blackberry jelly.  She had a passion for book reading into the wee hours of the night.

 After moving and living in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, Margaret later was baptized and became a member of the “Church of Christ”. Margaret and John expanded their family with five amazing children: daughter Loraine Ingram (Joel) of South Carolina, daughter Kathy Conely (Greg - deceased) of Florida, daughter Hilda Woods (Randy) of Ohio, son Johnny Coleman (deceased) of Ohio, and daughter Marguerite Jackson (Bryan) of Ohio. 

We knew our parents loved us; come what may. They even gave us nicknames: King Pin (Loraine), Kit-Kat (Kathy); Pumpkin (Hilda), Jay (Johnny), and Apple Head (Marguerite). Margaret kept our lives fun and busy. Every Wednesday Margaret would take her little ducklings to the Liberty movie theater and serve spaghetti for dinner. She planned vacations and exposed us to new places. 

Margaret, being the oldest child growing up, is survived by one brother and two sisters: Horace Richard Rice (Gloria) of Virgina; Gloria Jean Alston of Illinois; Mary Ann Yancey (James) of Georgia. She had one deceased brother Earl William Rice.  Margaret would often tell them western cowboy and scary stories for fun. She loved her family dearly. Margaret began her heavenly journey home on July 12, 2025. God had blessed her to live to the golden age of ninety-one. 

Margaret is survived by thirteen grandchildren and thirty great - grandchildren which she loved dearly.

 Grandchildren: Tania, Tommy, Keisher, Ebony, Gregory Jr., John, Margaret, Destiny, Mya, Natalie, Randolph II, Clarence (CP), and Bradley 

Great - grandchildren: Daijah, Wayne Jr., Ladainan, Lincoln, Trinity, Noa, Ariyanna, Xavier, Shaniya, Kierra, J.R., Christian, Arya, Maya, Joy, Gregory, Samara, Kya, Bria, Zuri, Henry, Rylie, Randolph III, Langston, Majesty, Milan, Clarence, Niya, Bráelle, and Lavar

 In addition, Margaret was also blessed with a host of nieces and nephews.

 Margaret was the backbone and strength of our family. She always made provisions for the family whether they were words of wisdom, health, or finances. She was there and loved us dearly. ‘We promise to hold the family together Mama’

 Love, Your family

A wake for Mrs. Margaret Coleman will be Monday July 28, 2025 from 6 pm to 8 pm @ Russell-McCutchen Funeral Home Chapel, 324 S. Vanderhorst St. Winnsboro SC 29180. Burial will 9 am Tuesday July 29, 2025 @ Weeping Mary Baptist Church, 4567 99 Rd Blair SC 29015

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(803)402-1494

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