Mary Ethel Coleman Milonas

Mary Ethel Coleman Milonas, 99, died Feb. 3, 2022 at St. Catherine’s Village, Madison, Mississippi. She was born July 2, 1922 in Coldwater, Mississippi, and moved at age one with her family to Lyon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace William and Adele Mccluskey Coleman and her only sister, Dorothy Coleman Jones.

Mary Ethel graduated from Bobo High School in Clarksdale and attended Ole Miss. Later, as an Air Force wife, she traveled the world and loved every assignment. She returned to Lyon and served as postmaster of the Lyon Post Office from 1971 until her retirement in 1992.

Mary Ethel was a member of St Paul’s United Methodist Church and Coahoma Woman’s Club. Passionate and outspoken in her beliefs, she (almost single handedly) reclaimed the historic, long neglected Shuffordville Cemetery in Coahoma County. She helped establish the Great Books Program at Clarksdale Carnegie Public Library. She was happiest on the back porch of the house in Lyon where she grew up with her books, a cup of tea, lots of chocolate and her family and friends. In 2008 she moved to St. Catherine’s Village, which provided the tenderness and compassion that allowed her faith, gratitude, and contentment to bloom. Her determination, quick wit, and positive outlook inspired everyone she met.

She is survived by her two daughters and sonsin-law, Connie and Bill Medlyn of Durham, NC, and Melissa and Rick Cavett of Ridgeland, MS; grandchildren, Virginia (Laurent) Belouze; Scott (Emily) Medlyn; Drew (Erin) Medlyn; Sam (Liz) Cavett; and Thomas (Sasha) Cavett; 10 great-grandchildren; and her niece, Lee Anne (Michael) Jones Wilson.

Mary Ethel was buried in Shuffordville Cemetery, Lyon, MS. The arrangements were made by Meredith-nowell Funeral Home. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carnegie Public Library, PO Box 280, Clarksdale, MS 38614 or St. Catherine’s Village through The Dominican Fund, St. Dominic Health Services Foundation, 100 Dominican Dr, Madison, MS 39110.