November 2, 2022, 86, Goldsboro –

Barbara Mansell Coats, 86, passed away on November 2, 2022. Born in Plant City, Florida to Joshua and Gladys Mansell, she spent her life fully devoted to her family and friends. She is survived by her sons, David Coats and his wife, Cheryl of High Point, North Carolina, and Mike Coats and his wife, Alice of Bonaire, Georgia; grandchildren, Ashley (Josh) Mintz, Josh (Meredith) Coats, Andrew (Holly) Coats, Caroline Coats, Emily Coats, Jenny (Joey) Bailey, and Amy Crawford; great-grandchildren, Joseph Bailey, James Bailey, and Jonah Crawford; and several nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her brother, Donald Mansell of Bushnell, Florida, her sister, Betty Ling of Micanopy, Florida, and her brother, Phillip Mansell of Oxford, Georgia.

Barbara was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She lovingly supported her husband James throughout his Air Force Career moving all over the United States, and then as a Professor and Vice President of Mount Olive College. She loved to travel, was wonderfully creative with all types of needlework projects, and loved her flowers and seemed to have pots of African Violets and needlework supplies everywhere in her house. She retired from Belk in the Berkely Mall after 20 years of service and she was a long-time volunteer with the Town and Country Extension Homemaker’s Club, where she judged plant and flower shows every year at the Wayne County Agricultural Fair. She was a long-time member of Adamsville Baptist Church and a wonderful ladies’ Sunday School Class and was also active in the Neuse River Baptist Association.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Joshua and Gladys Mansell, husband Dr. James Coats; a daughter, Deborah Thompson; sister, Patricia Smith; sister-in-law, Eva Mansell; and her puppies, Pepper, Daisy, and Abby.

A graveside service to celebrate Barbara will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery where she will rest between her husband James, and daughter Deborah. The family will receive friends following the service at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Town and Country Extension Homemaker’s Club c/o Cornelia Grundmeier, 227 Creek Ridge Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.