James Claiborne Coleman, III

James Claiborne Coleman III

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Entered into rest Friday, September 9th, 2016. James Claiborne (Clay) Coleman III, 52, beloved husband of Ivey McMillan Coleman for 25 years and devoted father of Susan Elizabeth (Beth) Coleman. Clay was an Augusta native, the youngest child of James Claiborne (Clay) Coleman, Jr. and Dorothy Hardin Coleman.

Clay ("Bones") graduated from Episcopal Day School and Augusta Preparatory School, attended Georgia Tech, earned his BA degree at the College of Charleston (where he and Ivey met), and obtained his MBA at Augusta College. He was in partnership with his brother, John, for over 15 years at Coleman Associates, specializing in revitalizing and beautifying some of Augusta's most treasured historic homes, with a focus on the Summerville area where he lived and grew up. He was a devoted and integral part of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Augusta where he began singing in the Junior Choir and ultimately became the choir's cantor, lending his soulful, resonant voice to Sunday and special Church services including Evensong. He also filled St. Paul's Church with his effervescence and love of God and Country for the annual July 4th Star Spangled Concert series, captivating the audience with his joyous rendition of "Yankee Doodle Dandy."

Clay served on St. Paul's Vestry in addition to its Building & Grounds Committee. He mirrored his father's degree of devotion to the Church.
Bones had a natural aptitude for all things mechanical and always sought to decipher the way things work. No microwave was safe from his reverse engineering experiments. He also had an unquenchable inquisitiveness about life, embracing both humanity and the miracles of mother nature. His acute sensitivity--combined with his capacity for love and laughter and a sense of mischief--was beautiful to behold. (He was especially adept at laughing at his own jokes. A delightfully contagious gift.)

Family members in addition to his wife, Ivey, and daughter, Beth, include his father, James Claiborne Coleman, Jr.; mother-in-law, Susan Elizabeth (Susie) McMillan; sisters Anne Coleman Wilson (Robert), Laura Turner Coleman, and Julia Coleman Vagovic (Peter); and brother, John Hardin Coleman (Nancy). His beloved nieces and nephews are: John Hardin Coleman, Jr., Dorothy Jewell Coleman, and John Claiborne Wilson.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church. Burial will follow in the churchyard. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Music Ministry, 605 Reynolds Street, Augusta, GA 30901. Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com