Betsy Coleman

Billie Jean Coleman

November 28, 1932 – May 11, 2025

My Mother, Billie Jean Coleman, was born in Millport, Alabama on November 28, 1932. She was one of ten children born to Thorton and Abbie May. Times were hard. Not highly educated, she was still successful in her 92 years. She sewed beautifully and when I was young made fancy drapes for some of the homes considered mansions here in Columbus. I can still remember her stapling the beautiful fabrics onto the cornice boards. It seemed like miles of material to me. She made every dress I wore to high school and made sure I was one of the first girls to have panty hose (bought from Ruth’s Shop in downtown Columbus). Monograms, matching shoes, and hairpieces are all terms you could say was Mrs. Betsy. She loved dogs but would say they were too much trouble. She didn’t like to cook, but when she did it was good food; not fancy, but the best cornbread ever. Her house was immaculate and decorated with what I think was beautiful stuff and believe me it was dusted. Grandma, as she became when Judson Littlejohn arrived, was a yard person. She was the first one at Bloomer’s when the first blooms of spring popped up. Her yard had to be as perfect as the inside of her house. Shall I say she was a Southern Belle? Yes, I can and I might add, one dressed with a flower pinned to her freshly ironed white blouse!

My Mother was married young to my Dad, Billy Coleman. He loved the junkyard, as we called it, and owned and operated Dixie Auto Parts, which is now going on 68 years in business. Her grandson, Judson, is running it now. Mrs. Betsy, deciding to give up her sewing machine, would go on to tell my Dad “how to run said junkyard” for some 40 years. She knew as much about a car or truck as most men, all you had to do was ask her.

Mrs. Betsy and her sister-in-law, Jean Blake, would attend church together and go out to eat Sunday lunch. When they got mad at one preacher they just picked out another Baptist Church and went there. She last attended Fairview Baptist and enjoyed calls and cards from their Sunday school girls.

Grandma wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of person until my son Judson arrived and when Cole arrived it was anything but give them what they wanted. To say I took a backseat would be mild; I had to ride in the back of her truck. She didn’t believe in cars. They couldn’t haul things home, right?

Billie Jean is predeceased by my Dad some 27 years. She lived by herself up until the last months of her life when the dreaded sitters appeared. When she found they would do anything she wanted, well, things worked out pretty good. Believe me, Grandma and me, had three angels - Jennifer, Susie and Annette. Thank you three girls.

Billie Jean, Betsy, Mrs. Dixie, Mother, Grandmother is leaving behind me, Carol Littlejohn (Mike Bernsen), grandson Judson Littlejohn (Jennifer) and great grandson, Coleman. We will all miss being told what to do and how to do it!

Also, Bill Littlejohn (Johanna) and their four boys, two with families and two more that are bringing their girls around, know what that means. Melinda Littlejohn McGrath (Hoyt) with her two girls married and one boy who is living the college life.

Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements. They usher us around like family. My Mother will be laid to rest down at Friendship Cemetery on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. And it will just be us, all family, sitting under a tent, a private graveside service. My Cousins, Phillip Blake (Karen) and Dr. Bonnie Blake (Marvin Butler) will be with us. Marvin will conduct the service. Bruce, one of my best friends, will do the flowers. Mine and Grandma’s neighbors will fix the tables for the eating after. Heather will cater the BBQ, Grandma’s favorite.

Ya’ll know, just family saying goodbye to my Mother, Billie Jean.