Browder Alexis Coates

On June 19, 1948, Browder Alexis Coates burst into the world a brilliant display of red, amber, gold, and pink! Mobile, Alabama served as her point of entry, but it would not remain her home for long—too big a personality she had for small town, USA. Her parents Cassie Lee and TW Harrison relocated the family to Ohio and, because this union did not last a lifetime, Browder and her eight siblings were raised by their dear dad Ebb Williams.

Browder was dazzling and self-empowered from her earliest years. One year of schooling in Newark, New Jersey when she was twelve returned her to the Buckeye State with the moniker Brida. She had renamed herself! Going forward, Brida it would be.

Brida graduated from Linden McKinley High School in 1966, where she made Homecoming Court. She graduated from Franklin University in 1977 and from Ashland University with an MBA in 2002. She earned her doctorate degree in 2009 from Capella University and eventually sealed the title Dr. Coates or Dr. B. to her identity.

From 1984 to 2001, Dr. Coates was employed by the Ohio Department of Transportation District 6 in Delaware, Ohio, where she worked as an assistant auditor and accountant. Her astounding leadership led her to the union president as well. Her return to school occurred during her final years at ODOT and eventually led to her academic appointment at Trident University.

A faithful member of First Church of God, she served in the women’s ministry, enjoying and assisting in the Mother’s Day Hat Luncheons. Dr. Coates spent years as an active member of National Council of Negro Women, eventually being elected president in the Columbus section. She also serviced the Columbus branch of the NAACP.

While her academics and her professional life were of utmost importance, family superseded those pursuits. Dr. Coates faithfully shared her life for 53 years with her loving husband Ezzard C. Coates, raising into adulthood six children: Crystal (Alan) Clark, Ronald (Sarah) Robinson, Christy (Tommy) Austin, E. Brandon Coates, Candice Coates, and Courtney (Kevin) Coates-Viney; fifteen grandchildren: Allison Robinson (Juanita), Andrea (Jermaine) Johnson, Ronald Robinson Jr., Hunter Austin, Hayden Austin, Harper Austin, Hudson Austin, Noah Clark, Eden Clark, Bronson Robinson (Shana), Camden Coates, Averi Robinson, Kamron Robinson, Uriah Robinson, and Amari Robinson; six great-grandchildren: Nari (Nicholas) Cordell, Nilyn Cordell, Naomi Johnson, Noelle Johnson, Nia Johnson, and Zaccai Browder Robinson (Karlie); and three nephew-sons: Dion Chadri Khan, Stanley Holden, and James “Coke” Bailey—all celebrating her life.

Dr. Coates is preceded in death by her fathers: TW Harrison and Ebb Williams; her siblings, Kirk Douglass Terrell, and Jocelyn Renee Harrison. Aside from the list of names in the paragraph above, she is survived by her husband, Ezzard Coates, her mother, Sis. Cassie Williams; and her siblings; Melvin (Lori) Harrison, Stan Harrison, Anthony (Lilian), Philip (Loretta), Ericka Williams Holloway, and Monique Williams; her in-laws: Earnestine Coates, Edith (Sam) Terry, Sandy Crawford, Sharon Coates Johnson, Nianzia Sanders; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends.