Lelia Bell Coleman was born on July 24, 1934 to the late Lewis and Bessie Lyles in Dallas County, Alabama. She accepted Christ at an early age and became a lifelong member of the Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church #2 under the pastorage of the late Reverend J. B. Weaver. It was there that she developed a love for singing and under the leadership of Rev. Hubert Baker she joined the Hubert Baker Chorale.

Lelia was a graduate of Central High School, Class of 1952, and retired from the workforce as an employee of Julius T. Wright School for girls with over 25 years of service. She served o many church committees where she was renowned for her cooking skills.

Lelia was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Coleman, Jr., two brothers, Leroy Culpepper and Clarence Young; one sister, Julia M. Clay; two children, Kenric Lyles and Bessie M. Coleman; and one nephew, Freddie Bennett.

She leaves to cherish her memories: one brother, Eddie Lee Lyles of Cleveland, OH; six children, Jeffrey (Latonya) Lyles, Gwendolyn Johnson, Carter (Janice) Lyles, Leroy Lyles all of Mobile, AL, Ezzia (Nick) Johns of San Diego, CA, Anthony Lyles of Dallas, TX; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

Her remains will lie in state on Monday, July 17, 2017 from 5-8pm at Small’s Mortuary, Mobile. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 from 10am until the 11am funeral hour at Greater Mt. Olive #2 Baptist Church, 251 N. Lafayette Street, Mobile, AL. Interment will follow in Whispering Pines Cemetery, Eight Mile, AL.

DIGNIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO SMALL’S MORTUARY, 950 SOUTH BROAD STREET, MOBILE, AL. 36603.