The Rev. Edwin Cabaniss Coleman, 95, beloved minister of the Episcopal Church, passed peacefully on March 13, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Born in Jackson, MS and raised in New Orleans, Rev. Coleman was a proud drummer in his high school marching band. He had a profound conversion experience at 16 and eventually became a Greek scholar, graduating with a Master of Divinity from the University of the South, Sewanee. He married Mary Lou Alexandre Parker (“Alex”) in 1954 and served as deacon in Louisiana, then became rector of St. John’s in College Park, GA in 1958, where the small congregation grew to 1000 members. He then served for 20 years as rector of historic St. Michael’s Church Charleston, SC, where he was a passionate clergy advisor to two lay-led renewal movements, Education for Ministry (EFM) and Cursillo.
In 1985 Fr. Coleman became Associate Rector at St. George’s, Nashville, and served twice as Interim Rector during two transitional periods and as a priest at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville. Rev. Coleman was predeceased by his beloved bride of 65 years, Alex Coleman, and survived by four children: Edwin Cabaniss Coleman Jr. (Todd), John Parker Coleman, Mary Alexandra Coleman, Stuart Holmes Coleman; five grandchildren: Coleman Butts, Callie Ban, Ali DeMoss-Campbell, Sarah Jane Coleman, Guy Alexander Coleman; and two great-grandchildren: Marigold Ban and Percy Ban.
The memorial service will take place Saturday, March 22 at 11:30 AM at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205.
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