Text Box: Volume 7, Number 4 Fall 2003 Text Box: Page 1 Text Box: Mary West Coleman Volunteers To Honor Her Beloved Sister Text Box: Mary was born in Clover and reared in South Boston. She attended Booker T. Washington Elementary(presently Washington - Coleman Elementary) until 8th grade when she became a boarding student at St. Paul’s School in Lawrenceville, Virginia. At St. Paul’s Mary completed her last two years of high school and first two years of college. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia State College (later named Virginia State University). After finishing college, Mary lived in South Boston and took a teaching position at a two-room schoolhouse known as Flintrock School. She taught fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. She continued to teach for many years, eventually taking a teaching position at Clays Mill Elementary where she taught first and second grades. She became certified to teach kindergarten at Clays Mill and continued there until her retirement. Mary dearly misses her late sister Ellen, who passed away in September of 1997, and her late husband, Clem B. Coleman. Mary has two children, of whom she is very proud. Her daughter graduated with a law degree from Duke University and currently practices in Maryland. Her son also works in Maryland as a store manager. When asked what Mary enjoys most about volunteering at the museum, she comments, “Meeting the people and being able to help in any way possible just like my sister once did.” Text Box: When volunteer Mary West Coleman initially offered to assist us at the museum, she made it perfectly clear that doing so would be in honor of her late sister, Ellen West Capiz. Once a well-known educator, Ellen left a legacy to both her family and the community. Ellen loved working at the South Boston Historical Museum on North Main Street (the museum moved to its present site in 1997 and was later renamed). She enthusiastically encouraged the founding of the museum, and along with her family, established the Alberta Green West Education Room in honor of their mother. Text Box: Join us and become a volunteer today! Text Box: Volunteer Mary West Coleman ( pictured left) at the museum today. Above, sister Ellen West Capiz (standing second from right), along with (from left to right) Morris Bryant, William A. Kent, Dr. Kenneth Walker, Woody Bane, Betty Bane, Del. Mark Hagood, Rev. Henry Long, Sally Snead, and Marshall Swanson at the South Boston Historical Museum in 1990.
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