James Earl Coley

James Earl Coley Sr. was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina on August 9, 1956 to the late John Lee Coley Sr. and Mamie Ruth Coley. He departed this earthly life on August 7, 2024. James Earl graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1974.  While in high school, he played on the basketball team for Goldsboro High. After graduating, James Earl enlisted in the military. He went into  the Air Force along with his cousin, Jerome Ellis.  After James Earl's tour of service was over in the military, he made his home in Tampa Florida, with his wife, Carolyn Perry; who he married on October 16, 1978, and their four children. He worked for the United States Postal Service until he retired.  James Earl was a great provider for his family.  Not only was he a great provider for his family, but a person seen a bad day if you messed with his family.  James Earl, did not play when it came down to the matters of the heart. If he liked you, you knew it and if he didn't like you, you knew it as well, because he had no problem with speaking what was on his mind.  He had a big heart of gold.  He opened his home up to everyone, especially his nieces and nephews.   If you couldn't go to anyone else's house, James Earl and Carolyn's house was always opened.  Sometimes, he might have some choice of words for you but they were coming from a place of love.  To know James Earl was to love James Earl.  There might have been times when you saw him, he had nothing to say and then you might have seen him and you couldn't get him to stop talking. Especially, if he had something on his mind that he needed to say. Two things in life James Earl enjoyed, being on Facebook and watching his sports.  Nobody, nowhere could mess with these two things.  All anyone could do was sit back, laugh and shake your head because James Earl was going to say and do what he did.  To talk about the life of James Earl, would be like reading a book because there would be so much to say about him.  He was just a person, people enjoyed being around.  When you talked to him on the phone or saw him  in person, the last thing he would say was " I love you now".  In addition to his parents, James Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn; and grandchild, Tori-Jhene Coley.  James Earl leaves to cherish his memories: his children, Jasmine Range, James Jr. Coley, Darwin Mckenzie and Eddie Mckenzie all of Florida; two brothers, John Coley Jr. (Claudia) of Durham NC and Robert Coley of Goldsboro NC; two sisters, Jacquelyn Coley of Goldsboro, NC and Jenny Coley of Charlotte, NC, cousins who were raised as his brothers and sister,. Jack Harper,  Ralph Harper Jr. and MaryAnn James, all of North Carolina, his in-laws, Al and Loretta Baker, and Linda Perry all of Florida, his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who he loved so much, Alexis Range, L'Tanya Coley, Tionnah Coley, TJ Coley, Allen Range, DeAndre Range, Tre Coley, Tamir Grayson-Coley, Nadia Monteagudo (great), Maria Monique Myles (great), Takiesha Mckenzie, Sara McKenzie, Aaliyah Mckenzie, Takari Jackson, Jahzion Mckenzie and Melody Mckenzie; and a host of other relatives and friends.

 

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