Willa Dean Coleman

Willa Dean Rice Coleman, 62, of West Asheville, went home to be with her Lord Sunday, March 30, 2008, at St. Joseph Campus, Mission Hospitals. A native of Buncombe County, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She and her husband established Big Yanks Bike Shop at the flea market business from the ground up and worked it for 40 years. She was a daughter of the late Willard and Marie Letterman Rice and was also preceded in death by her husband, Leonard "Big Yank" Coleman; a daughter, Donna Marie Coleman, a grandson, Toby Mitchell, a sister Barbara Jean McClellan of Arden, two brothers, Jim Griffin of Georgia and John Griffin of Asheville. She is survived by a daughter, Kimberly Coleman and husband Felix Perez; one brother, George Griffin and wife Minnie of West Asheville; three sisters, Lois "Sis" Lance of West Asheville, Ruth Watson of South Carolina and Thelma Williams of North Carolina; three grandchildren, Christopher and Amber Mitchell and Candice Flores of Georgia; one great-grandchild, Demarcus Shivers of Georgia, one very special brother-in-law, Gilbert Lee Coleman of Black Mountain; and two nieces who were thought of as daughters, Serena Lance Rice of Weaverville and Belinda Miller of Enka. Willa Coleman was a special mother and friend to those who needed a mother and friend. A funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Ken Ingle officiating. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Donations may be made to the family to help with cemetery expenses.