Patrick Tillman Coates Sr., 54

MILFORD - Patrick Tillman Coates Sr. departed this life on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, in the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore after an extended illness. He was 54.

Patrick was born and raised in Philadelphia and completed the public school system in Philadelphia.

After graduating from high school he enrolled at Delaware State College, now Delaware State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business and accounting in 1975, and he met and married his college sweetheart, Denise.

Patrick was employed by the state of Delaware as an administrator for more than 30 years.

Patrick was a faithful member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Lincoln, for 34 years.

He served as the administrative board chairperson, the chairperson of the finance committee, vice president of the United Methodist Men, certified lay speaker, and lay leader.

He served on the conference level as treasurer of Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR).

Patrick was very active in the community and coached Pop Warner football and Little League baseball in Milford, and high school football for Lake Forest and Milford.

He was a member of the Rising Sun Lodge 4, PHA, F&AM in Milton, the G. Oscar Carrington Consistory 93, and Rock of Ages, Chapter 15 Order of the Eastern Star in Milford.

Patrick was also a lifetime member of the NAACP, and a member of numerous other organizations within the community and state.

At the time of his death, he was passionately working on a project to establish a health clinic in his community and surrounding areas.

When not working on various projects one could always find him in front of the television cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Patrick was preceded in death by his parents, Tillman Coates and Steveanna Kellam Coates.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 34 years, E. Denise Coates; one son, Patrick Coates Jr. of Hyattsville, Md.; one daughter, Michelle P. Coates of Laurel, Md.; numerous "adopted" sons and daughters; one brother, Timothy Coates of Wilmington; several aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins; a father- and mother-in-law and brothers- and sisters-in-law; and his adopted mother, Daisey Daniels, the Daniels family and a host of other friends.

Services will be noon Saturday at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Lincoln, where friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday two hours prior to services.

Interment will be in Old Hickory Cemetery.

Arrangements by Minus Funeral Home, Dover.