Bill W. Coffman, at 88 years, left this life and entered the gates of heaven on August 6, 2024.
He was born on a ranch near Spur, Texas, on October 5, 1935, to parents Eldred and Clarence Coffman. As he grew up, his love for sports and his athletic ability became evident. He planned to become a football coach. However, God called him when he was 16 to become a preacher.
He graduated from Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas in 1958. While a student, he met and married Ann Fuller in 1956. During that year, he was called to his first pastorate, a small country church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, May, Texas. While students, the couple drove to church every Sunday, and spent the day in the community. At the age of 21, his lifelong pattern of leadership became evident. The small church grew even after years of decline.
After college, he enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas in 1962. He was called to his first full-time pastorate at First Baptist Church Valley, View, Texas. After graduation from seminary, he and Ann were appointed as missionaries by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Their first assignment was a year of intense study of Spanish in San Jose, Costa Rica, followed by becoming the second missionary for Baptists in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
While in the Dominican Republic, he started the first organized Hispanic Baptist Church, Templo Bautista de Ozama. After meeting in a rented building, he purchased property, designed and built the first Southern Baptist Church in the Dominican Republic. He also started the first English language church which met in their home. Both congregations have continued to meet and presently comprise two of the largest congregations in that city.
His next assignment was to become pastor of the Borinquen Baptist Church, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, located just outside the gate of Ramey Air Force Base, the congregation consisted of USAF personnel and their families. After the Air Force left Puerto Rico, he moved his family to Miami, Florida and became pastor of Flagler Street Baptist Church.
The Florida years began as he became pastor of several churches in Florida. Central Baptist Church, Sanford; First Baptist Church, Crestview; Arlington Baptist Church, Jacksonville; Westview Baptist, Sanford. His ministry changed when he was asked to direct all of the ethnic churches in Florida. The churches included 20 different languages. He traveled over the state of Florida preaching through interpreters and becoming a pastor to the pastors. He later directed the Cooperative Program, the main financial support for missions.
Bill was respected and known in every church for his strong leadership qualities, his administrative skills and his careful oversight of church resources. Most of all, he was known for his people skills. His kind and open relationships expanded to all people. His presence in a room drew people to him. His gift for listening to their stories and remembering their names was outstanding. He loved both to preach and to be a pastor to his congregations.
Perhaps he was best known in Florida for telling his Texas stories. No matter where he was, he was requested to relate a Texas story. Although he loved living in Florida, he never forgot his Texas roots.
He was a genuine man of God who never ceased to serve those persons in his churches. He fought his disease and the declining health it caused. Even in his last weeks, he ministered to those who cared for him and prayed for those who requested it.
His legacy will live on in the lives of those he taught and mentored. He leaves behind his wife of 67 years, Ann, and his daughter Kay and her husband Steve, his grandson Joshua and his wife, Kristen.
A celebration of life will be held at Westview Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida on September 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A funeral of life will be held at Westview Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida on September 14, at 2 p.m.