Rev William Howard Coleman

The Rev. William “Howard” Coleman, 91, of Poplar Bluff went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Dec. 21, 2022, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti.

Howard was born on April 19, 1931, to Sam and Rosie Coleman in Missouri. On Oct. 15, 1966, he married the love of his life, Maxine Kenser Springer. She preceded him in death Sept. 18, 2019.

Howard was a self-taught mechanic and tow truck service operator, owning a transmission shop on South Broadway for many years. After suffering a heart attack in his late 30s, he accepted Christ as his Savior and was called into the ministry. Starting in 1976, he and Maxine led the congregation of Bible Baptist Church on Poplar Bluff’s East Side for 41 spirit-filled years, preaching the Word and fulfilling his most important charge of winning many souls to Christ. He particularly took great joy in the church’s bus ministry and the generations of children who were reached. The Colemans also ministered in the community through music with their band, the Spiritual Aires, which included Maxine’s sister and brother-in-law, Margie and Mark Maddux, and Calvin and Doris Ham. He also served his country in the Korean War.

Howard is survived by daughters, Tonya (Glynn) Pratt and Cindy (Ralph) Eastwood of Poplar Bluff; sons, Ronnie (Martha) Springer of Tennessee and Keith (Lori) Springer of New Jersey; five grandchildren, Chassity (Jeremy) Hampton of Ellsinore, Hunter (Emma) Pratt of Poplar Bluff, Jodi Springer (Owen Lewis) of Tennessee, Brittney (Christopher) Prentice of New Jersey and Ashley Springer of New Jersey; honorary granddaughter, Alexis Hays of Puxico; six great-grandchildren, Alauna, Alexis, Maddie and Colton Hampton, all of Ellsinore; and Heidi and Caroline Pratt of Poplar Bluff; and a sister, Eva Emmons of Poplar Bluff.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife, parents and one son, Billy.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will follow at noon in the chapel with the Rev. Vernon Wolverton officiating. Burial will take place at 2 p.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.