Willie Alford "Bill" Coleman passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday night, April 23, 2025.

Born on October 4, 1931 in Statesboro, Georgia, the son of Ottis and Corine Coleman. He was preceded in death by Connie, his wife of 67 years. He is survived by his daughter CeCe, son Joe, daughter in law Helen and granddaughters Elizabeth Coleman (Thanos) and Rebekah Etheredge (Ethan)

Billy was a home-grown Savannah boy.
He had a happy young life spent usually in the company of four friends who all lived in the area of Bull and Broughton Streets. When his mother died when he was 12 Billy sold the local Savannah evening newspaper up and down Broughton and West Broad Streets to help support his dad. His fun was eating just-baked sweet rolls from  Gottlieb’s bakery, riding his bicycle through the shrubbery in the downtown park at Bull and State streets, and playing “king of the hill” on the swimming boardwalk at the old Daffin Park lagoon. He danced Saturday nights away at the home of a friends, body surfed and played “half rubber” at Savannah Beach. 

Graduation from Commercial High School in 1949 signaled the end of his carefree days. He joined the Regular Army, married his high school sweetheart, Connie, went off to fight in the Korean War and returned to go off to the University of Georgia on the GI Bill with his wife and baby girl to live in “Married student housing”. He graduated with a BBA and immediately went to Officer Candidate School and rose to the rank of full colonel.

He  completed 31 years of military service, graduating from many specialized training schools, including the Basic Infantry training at Fort Jackson, SC, Parachute School at Fort Benning, GA, Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, OK, Finance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses,  the US Army War College at Carlyle Barracks, PA and received an MBA from Syracuse University.

Billy was a real self-made man and welcomed responsibility and challenge. “The Colonel” was proud of his military career and his accomplishments.

As an young officer, on his first assignment in 1952, he was in charge of a Field Artillery Forward Observation (FO) team with the Airborne 320th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Benning, GA, was first an FO and then  XO with the 37th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea during the War, senior Finance and Accounting Officer at the Blue Grass Ordnance Depot, KY,   Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, Department of the Army Finance Corps,  Accounting Officer at Headquarters, US Army Europe,  Finance Officer and Comptroller of the Airborne 5th Special Forces Group in 1967 in Vietnam during that war, Project Officer in the Department of the Army, Office of the Assistant Vice of Staff,  Finance and Accounting Officer at Fort Myer, VA, team member of the Department of the Army Office of the Inspector General, and finally Director of the Finance Directorate, US Army Computer Systems Command.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

His received many awards, medals, and badges during his career including the Legion of Merit w/Oak Leaf Cluster,  Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal,  Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Medal With First Oak Leaf Cluster,  General Staff Identification Badge, Meritorious Unit Badge,  Presidential Unit Badge, Korean Service Medal,  United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal With/Device 60, Vietnam Gallantry Cross With Palm, Vietnam Jump Wings, Parachutist Badge.  He was inducted into Field Artillery OCS Hall of Fame and the US Army Finance Corps Hall of Fame before he retired in 1981.

After his military career, he spent the next 40 years enjoying his retirement , improving his tennis game, traveling, enjoying his granddaughters and giving back to the civilian community including City Lights Theatre Company, Fairway Oaks Homeowners Association as President,  Savannah Art Association as President and Chairman of the   Commercial High School Reunion Committee.  As a member of the Savannah Yacht Club (SYC) he served on the Tennis Committee, was player-captain of the men’s 4.0 tennis team for over 25 years, won the city tennis championships twice, and took the  team to the Georgia championships twice. He received the SYC Most Valuable Male Member Award and the Lifetime Ambassador of Tennis Award and loved being Santa Claus for the kids of the public libraries on the Islands and Thunderbolt.

“The Colonel” loved life, tennis, books, his family, his friends and his Asbury Memorial Church family.

 Special thanks to the wonderful staff of Vickie’s Helping  Hands who managed and took care of the day to day matters of his life while in the hands of Georgia Hospice Care. This group of selfless and giving professionals enhanced his last years and the family cannot thank them enough.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 30th from 5 till 7PM at Fox and Weeks on Hodgson.  Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 1st at 11am at Asbury Memorial Church. A family burial w/military honors at Lake Church in Metter, Georgia will follow a reception at Asbury.