b'OBITUARYMother Selena M. Coburn,Jan. 24, 1935Jan. 15, 2021S elena Maudine Collins was bornShetaughthowtolove,forgive,MissionaryThelmaMcCain(St. to Jesse Collins and Robert Jeanand forget.Louis,Missouri),MarcilePernell, Carthan on Thursday, January 24,MotherCoburnservedfaithful- EdithRucker,LorraineHardwick, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri. She andlyatPrinceofPeaceChurchofGwendolynGuss,ReverendIda her brother Maurice were raised byGod in Christ under four pastoralGice Smith, and Missionary Lovie theirpaternalgrandmother,Ellaadministrations,whichincludedScurles, all of Colorado.Collins.Theyfaithfullyattendedher father-in-law, overseer WilliamThe Family Received care from the Staff of23rd and Delmar Church of God inCoburn, Sr.Christ (which later became Bostick Temple Church of God in Christ),ShewasdedicatedtotheLord, in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.thechurchanditsmembers. Selena received her education inSheworemanyhats,suchas the St. Louis public school system.SundaySchoolteacherandshe She graduated from Sumner Highwould prepare light snacks in case SchoolinSt.Louis,andreceivedyoumissedbreakfast.Shewasa herBachelorofArtsdegreefromVacationBibleSchoolorganizer Harris-StoweTeachersCollegeinand teacher, and she loved to dye January1956.WhileincollegeEaster eggs and assemble the bags shepledgedAlphaKappaAlphawith the eggs and candy.Mother Selena CoburnSorority, Inc.She loved Prince of Peace Church OnFebruary10,1957Selenaand attended almost every service married the love of her life, Williamupuntilafewweeksbeforeher Coburn,Jr.,atBostickTemplepassing. If the church doors were ChurchofGodinChrist.Afteropen, she was there.severalyearsofmarriage,theyMotherCoburnreceivedher wereblessedwiththeirfirst-bornEvangelistMissionarylicensein daughter,TraciAllayne.Although2003fromtheJurisdictionof Traci would have liked to have beenColorado Church of God in Christ. theonlychild,herlittlebrotherShewasVicePresidentofthe WilliamBrentputadamperonJurisdictionofColoradoPastors, that. The perfect pair, the parentsEldersandMinistersWivesand thought-untilChristopherEllisWidows Circle. Mother Coburn was came on the scene. By now, Tracico-chair of the Interdenominational wasnotfeelingsohappy.AndPrayerBreakfasthostedandheld then,toeveryone\'ssurprise,theat Prince of Peace. child that completed that chapterShealsoservedfaithfullyas arrived.Candace Alina. theVicePresidentoftheDenver After the move to Colorado, sheLocal Council Interdenominational wasaneducatorwhotaughtatMinistersWivesandMinisters CurtisParkHeadStart,BarrettWidowsAssociation.Shewas ElementarySchoolandotheranadvisortotheJurisdiction elementaryschoolsthroughoutofColoradoYoungWomen\'s Denver. Years later, she performedChristianCouncil,andforsev-paraprofessionalworkgradingeralyears,MotherCoburn papersatMontbelloHighSchool,servedontheFinanceCommittee and reviewing scholarship applica- oftheJurisdictionofColorado tions for a local organization.Metropolitan District.ThroughouttheyearsshewasAnnually, beginning in January, oftenapproachedbystudentsshe would read through the Bible shehadtaughtwhosaidMotherin a year, never missing a day - and Coburnwastheirfirstorfavoritechallenged others to do the same. teacher.Shewasafirmbeliev- There is so much more that we can erineducation,andshepushedrecallaboutMotherCoburnbut, her children to higher learning. Ato sum it all up, she will best be womanofgrace,virtue,uncondi- rememberedforhersweet,kind, tionallove,andcompassion,theloyal and quiet demeanor. She was woman in Proverbs 31 best definesvery patient and never raised her her: ". But a woman who fears thevoice. Mother Coburn had a unique Lord, she shall be praised."way of handling challenging people Shewasawomanwhounself- andsituations,butneverjudging ishlysacrificedforherchildrenanyone. and grandchildren; her desire wasMotherCoburnispreceded to see them blessed. indeathbyherhusbandElderAffectionately known as "Neno"WilliamCoburn,Jr.,herparents andlater"Memaw,"notonlydidJesseCollinsandRobertJean sheraiseherownchildren,butCarthan-George,herbrother she was instrumental in helping toMaurice Collins, her grandmothers raiserelativeskids,thechurchsElla Collins and Edith Taylor.kids,theneighborhoodkids,theMotherCoburnleavestotrea-kidsshebabysat,thekidsthatsurehermemories,Missionary came home with her own kids, andTraciCoburn,PastorWilliam the kids that just showed up fromBrent (Dr. Carla) Coburn, Minister whoknowswhere.HeraffectionChris(MinisterHolli)Coburn,all for children was one of her great- of Colorado, and Minister Candace est gifts. (Pastor James) Jefferson, Jr. of St. ShementoredmanyyoungLouis,Missouri,aswellaseight women,teachingthemhowtobegrandchildren,sevengreat-grand-goodhousekeepers,wives,andchildren, and many nieces, neph-mothers. She taught biblical prin- ews,family, and friends.Mother ciples, and was an example of howCoburnwillbedearlymissedby to say little, pray a lot, be patient,her Prince of Peace church family, andoftenturntheothercheek.and her forever friends: Dr. Shirley Branham(Phoenix,Arizona), 18 FEBRUARY 2021 BOCNEWS.com'