Maye White Coil was born December 17, 1929, in Florence, Alabama. She passed from this life, March 16, 2016. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Coil; parents, Eugene and America (Bevis) White; sister, Norma Hazelbaker and husband Jack; twin sister, Faye White; brother, John David White and nephew, John David White II.
She is survived by her aunt, Marie Bevis Sloan Woodworth of Florence and her sister-in-law, Gladys White of Florence. Also by her oldest son, Charles Coil Jr., wife Paula of Bentonville, Arkansas and their daughters Shelley Cantrell, husband Rob, and Stephanie Jantz and husband, Renner. Her daughter, Charlotte Martin, husband Jim of Memphis, Tennessee and their daughters, Christine Wood and Jamie Kiburz, husband Cal. Her son, Christopher Coil, wife Lisa of Somerville, Tennessee and their children Ivan and Emma Claire Coil. Her daughter, Carole Medley, husband Keith of Florence, Alabama and their son, John Samuel. Seven great grandchildren: Caden, Ryder and Chase Cantrell; Brody and Lincoln Wood; Amos Jantz and Sullivan Kiburz. A number of nieces and nephews along with many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Maye attended Coffee High School in Florence through her Junior year and then went on to Mars Hill Bible School in 1947 for her Senior year which was Mars Hill’s first year of operation. She graduated valedictorian from that very first graduating class. She attended Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Home Economics. She met her husband, Charles at Harding. They were married in 1952 here in Florence. She briefly taught at Mars Hill and completed her career teaching 4th grade at Wilson Elementary School from 1970 to 1990.
She was “1st lady” of Heritage University (originally known as International Bible College, the first Bible College in Churches of Christ) from 1971 to 1990 when President Coil retired. She was devoted to her Lord first and always, to her beloved husband, to her four children and to the great cause of world evangelism, standing by her husband through his many week-long gospel meetings away from home and then the challenges of developing the Christian school that we know today as Heritage University. She was loved and remembered fondly by everyone who knew her, especially those who knew her teaching at Wilson High School, Mars Hill and Heritage, as well as her dear friends at Mt. Zion, Salem, Darby Drive, and Killen Churches of Christ among many, many others.
Pallbearers will be nephew, Jackie Hazelbaker, great nephews, Christopher and David White, and grandsons-in-law, Rob Cantrell, Renner Jantz and Cal Kiburz. Honorary pallbearers are nephews D. W. Coil, Reggie and Rocky Harrell, and lifelong friends Dr. Jimmy Allen, Dr. Jimmy Moffett and Dr. Cecil May Jr.
The family would like to thank her doctors, Tim Ashley, Christine Davis, Robert Webb, Diana McCutcheon, and Danny McFall for their excellent medical care. The family would also like to thank Hospice of North Alabama and the entire staff of Glenwood Nursing Home including the RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and Activities Directors that cared for and made her last layover on this earth a happy and peaceful respite. The family also thanks family friend and hairdresser, Alma Butler, for her kindness to attend to our mother while residing at Glenwood. Our deepest gratitude goes to her lifelong friend and caregiver, June Coats Phillips and caregiver of the last 8 years, Bonnie Davis, who, by their tender, loving care, extended quality years for Maye Coil.
Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. Friday March 18, at Killen Church of Christ, as well as, Saturday, March 19, from 12:30-2 p.m. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. There will be a private family graveside service at Mt. Zion Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made, in Mrs. Coil’s memory, to…
• The Charles & Maye Coil Scholarship Fund Heritage University, P.O., BOX HCU Florence, AL 35630
• Mars Hill Bible School Scholarship Fund, 698 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, AL 35630
• Harding Graduate School of Theology Endowment Fund,1000 Cherry Road, Memphis TN, 38117.
