Lela Mae Coker

Lela M. England Coker passed away at home Sunday evening November 10, 2024, at the age of 85. In her own words she was born June 28, 1939, “out in the field” in Harrogate, Tennessee. 

She was the third of eight children born to Roscoe F. and Pauline Smelser England. At the age of 2 her family moved to Knoxville and settled in Concord. She attended Farragut elementary and high schools. Lela worked as a seamstress in various clothing factories in Knoxville and retired from Hancock Fabrics. Her hobby was sewing and mowing the yard on her yellow Cub Cadet riding mower. She was still mowing the yard until she broke her shoulder at the age of 84.

Lela was a member of Dante Church of God where she and her husband Earl worked in the Earl Coker Food Ministry, packing and giving boxes of food until his passing in 2015. Lela carried on their work until her passing.

Preceded in death by parents Roscoe F. & Pauline Smelser England, husband of 59 years Earl D. (2015) and son James Coker (2019). 

Survived by daughter Lena Coker, daughter-in-law Deidra Coker, granddaughter & husband Mandy and Bryan Schoch. Brothers: Clifford England, Roscoe (Linda) England, and Glenn (Susan) England. Sisters: Barbara Bell, Mary Jackson and Linda Williams. Several nieces and nephews and Dante Church of God church family.

Receiving of friends will be 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Wednesday, November 13 at Dante Church of God, 414 Dante School Road, Knoxville, TN 37918. Funeral services will be at 7:00pm with Senior Pastor David Snyder and Pastor Garrett Reese officiating. Family and friends will meet on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 10:45am at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN for an 11:00am graveside service.

Funeral services for Lela will be live-streamed on Facebook at Dante Church of God. Live stream will begin shortly before 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to Dante Church of God, Earl Coker Food Ministry, 414 Dante School Road, Knoxville, TN 37918.