Samella Coley

Samella Coley, a native of Gary, Indiana, age 85, transitioned from this life into eternal life on Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Crown Point, Indiana.

Samella was born on August 22, 1937, in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, to her loving parents, Sam Campbell and Clotill Smith.

Samella grew up spending her adolescent years in Memphis, Tennessee, with her parents.  She began high school at Booker T. Washington in Memphis, but migrated in 1952 with her parents, Warner and Clotill Donald to Gary, Indiana, where she then attended and graduated from Froebel High School.  During her high school years, she met and in 1955, married the love of her life, James Coley, Jr.

The union of James and Samella Coley birthed three lovely daughters, Kathy, Clotill, and Dottie.  Samella cherished her three daughters working tirelessly as a single mom providing the best life they could have had.  She worked as a cook at Methodist Hospital in Gary, Indiana, later as a cashier at Kennedy/Slick's Cleaners, and retired from Ultra Foods in Highland, Indiana.

Samella energetically enjoyed, skating, dancing, singing in the church choir and she was a dynamic cook.  She "loved" family, keeping everyone connected, children, grandchildren, and great-grands. She truly treasured "all" holidays, it was her time to feed the family, to eat good and to be with those she loved.

Samella was dedicated to Christ at a young age. As a young adult she sang in the choir at Christian Valley Baptist Church, later joining The Good Sheperd MB Church under the leadership of her dad, Elder Warner Donald, Jr.  She received Spiritual Baptism in 1993, at Christ Universal Temple by Rev. Johnnie Coleman, and continued her spiritual journey at the Power Circle Congregation, Chicago, Illinois, in 1996 under Founder/Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Hill

Samella is survived by her three daughters, Kathy (Donald) Robinson, Clotill (Lawrence) Harris, and Dorothelia "Dottie" Coley; 9 grandchildren, Lashondria Coley, Necole (Jerry) Bradley, Nakesha (Reuben) Scott, Lawrence Harris, Aaron Harris, Monica (Charles) Hayes, Jeremy Boatner-Simmons, and Donald Robinson, II; 25 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Coley, Jr., parents, Warner and Clotill Donald, and grandson, Jahmil Boatner.

Visitation Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. with Homegoing Services 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. from Ridgelawn Funeral Home 4201 West Ridge Road Gary, Indiana 46408.  Interment Wednesday, November 2, 2022,  10:00 a.m. from Ridgelawn Cemetery. 

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