In Loving Memory

This is not an obituary, because love will never die. We used to say she should have written a book about her life. My mother always encouraged me to write. So her story will be the first that I tell.

Yolanda Ann Taylor Jernigan Coleman was born on August 26, 1965, in Houston, Texas, to Victory Jernigan and Larry Wayne Taylor.

She was a firecracker. Although she was small in stature, her personality was bigger than ever. "Yogi", as she was affectionately called, would open her doors to anyone who needed a listening ear, a solution to their problems or to share a cold beer, or 2.

Yolanda graduated from Evan E. Worthing High School and attended Texas Southern University, where she studied pharmacy. She excelled in business administration, typing, data entry, and tax administration. Yolanda worked for several local and family-owned Houston businesses and formed long-lasting relationships.

A mother of 6, Brittany, Brent, Burnell, Breanna, Bryan, and Bethany, she worked tirelessly to give her children a better future with her husband, Clifford, who has since joined her in Grace.

With deep family roots in Louisiana and Michigan, she was raised with a large community of loved ones, mainly by her grandparents, Alice and Kenneth Mouton. Her family instilled in her a love of God and deep values passed down from generation to generation. A woman of faith, she was a longtime member of Mount Moriah and East Bethel Baptist Churches. However, she preferred to have her own "living room service" full of prayer and gospel music. Sundays were always my favorite time; my siblings and I enjoyed the music and fellowship. Aunts, uncles, and cousins would visit Yogi, bring food, share stories, gossip, quarrel, hug, and cry- often all in one Sunday!

I often reach for memories of her tearfully worshipping to "Never Would Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp when I need strength. I would watch in confusion as her frail, thin arms stretched up to heaven in surrender, lost in reverence for His Mercy. As years have gone by, my understanding has cemented. This planted an everlasting seed of faith within me.

Her body rested from its battle with cancer on December 26, 2020. But her spirit lives on in those whom she loved.

This is the heart and soul of An-Alyse. My origin story. My purpose. Our mission.