Gwendolyn Bennett Coy

Gwendolyn Coy, the angel who spent her entire life encouraging, nurturing and shepherding us mere mortals, has finally gone home. She began her angelic service 70 years ago but the day she arrived and the day she left are not nearly as important as the days in between.

Gwen’s service to this world cannot be measured in gleaming plaques or engraved trophies. Her contribution to this world far surpassed that of secular recognition. With a bright smile, a warm hug and just the perfect scripture on her tongue, she single-handedly disseminated God’s love to the masses. But as all mythic dichotomies, Gwen was not just a caring soul, she was a fierce warrior too. She fought for all she believed in: God, family, justice, the underdog. Woe be unto you, should you dare dismiss or take advantage of any of these.

This beautiful complexity was evident in much of her life. Gwen married two phenomenal men (no, not at the same time). One loved chess. One loved fishing. She didn’t finish college but was a whiz with numbers and colleagues flocked to learn from her. She held Christmas and Easter as sacred holy days but her favorite holiday tradition was shooting pool, playing trivia and drinking beer with family the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. She had a reading impediment but devoured the Bible a dozen times and her bookshelves were filled with Christian novels. She sang proudly and with great reverence in church but her favorite bands were Three Dog Night and Hill City. She stocked her refrigerator for visitors with Sweet Tea, Water, Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper and Sprite but she never turned down a shot of Patron. She was never a “rich” woman but gave freely to anyone who needed it.

Gwen loved and cherished her family and friends and in truth, anyone who would let her. The world was a brighter place with her presence and the best legacy she can leave, is for us to take-up her mantle and be an angel to others.

We will honor Gwen’s memory:

Saturday, 6/15

J. Gilligan’s

The Music Room

400 East Abram, Arlington, Texas • 817-274-8561

1:00pm-3:00pm/at 2:00pm we will hear from a few people about Gwen’s life and memory

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:

Marshall County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association (MCFAPA)

709 Alabama Highway 205

Boaz, AL 35956