The Honorable Barbara Ann Coffey, 91, went to her eternal home on May 10, 2024, from her beloved hometown of Moulton, AL. Coffey was first elected Mayor of Moulton in 1988, an office she held for 16 years. A true visionary and lifelong public servant, she was the first female Mayor in the city’s history. No one loved the city of Moulton more than she did.
She was Born January 2, 1933, in Moulton, AL, the youngest child of Lee and Ethel (Reeves) Berryman. She graduated from Moulton High School (Now LCHS). She proudly served in municipal government for nearly 50 years, from her time as a clerk to her time as City Clerk and then as Mayor. She also served as President of the North Alabama Mayors Association.
She was the definition of a public servant, willingly assisting citizens with issues ranging from attracting the Walmart Superstore to Moulton to answering the phone in the middle of the night to address a citizen’s concern over a dog that would not stop barking.
As Mayor, her accomplishments are too numerous to detail fully. She was proud of each project that moved Moulton, AL, forward. She celebrated the growth of businesses and improvements in infrastructure, all while maintaining a balanced budget and keeping the city fiscally sound.
During her retirement years, she immensely enjoyed the times she was invited to invest in the community’s young people. Whether speaking to a class of children at an Elementary School or being interviewed about her experience as a government official – she truly believed that the key to Moulton’s future lay in the next generation of leaders.
She made it her goal to knock on every door and personally make the case for her election to every single voter. She took great joy in the favor she had with people of color and counted them among her dearest friends and associates.
It was fitting that she died on the same day that her husband of 48 years, Jimmy Coffey, passed away 25 years prior.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Lee Berryman and Ethel (Reeves) Berryman of Muck City, AL, and two brothers, W.E. Berryman (Betty) of Pontiac, MI, and Dempsey Berryman (Christine) of Muck City, AL.
She is survived by one daughter, Teresa Coffey Terry, of Decatur, AL, one grandson, Zach Terry (Julie) of Fernandina Beach, FL, three great-grandchildren, Carly Terry, Cole Terry, and Caitlyn Terry, all of Fernandina Beach, FL and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Moulton, AL where the funeral will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 2PM with visitation from 12PM till 2PM. Rev. Zach Terry, Rev. Tony Boyles, and Rev. Wanell Scott will be officiating. Burial at Moulton Memory Gardens will follow with Lawrence Funeral Home directing.
