Rev. Johnnie Coleman Dies at Age 94

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Elected officials, along with her church community and friends are mourning the death of Rev., Dr. Johnnie Coleman, who died Dec. 23 at age 94.

Referred to as the “First Lady of the New Thought Christian Community,” Dr. Coleman founded Christ Universal Temple, that first opened on 61st and Cottage Grove Ave. in Chicago in 1956, and today stands at 11901 S. Ashland Ave., as a progressive, new thought church. Rev. Coleman served as Senior Minister there for 50 years and  founded the Universal Foundation for Better Living, an international organization of affiliated ‘new thought’ churches and study groups that embrace a metaphysical interpretation of the Bible with a focus on healing, meditation and positive thought.

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Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon.

“I am saddened today to learn of the passing of Rev., Dr. Johnnie Colemon,” said Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County in a released statement. “Rev. Colemon was renowned as an insightful and dedicated religious leader who earned the title of First Lady of New Thought. She will be greatly missed, but her teachings will continue to manifest in the lives she has touched. My thoughts and prayers are with Rev. Colemon’s family, close friends, and the thousands of members of Christ Universal Temple and the Universal Foundation for Better Living.”

In addition to politicians, that included former Ill. Gov. Jim Thompson and Chicago Mayor Harold Washington who visited the church, that hosted his 1987 funeral, and celebrities including actress Eartha Kitt and Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris, attended services at Dr. Coleman’s church.

Additionally, motivational speaker Les Brown and entertainer Ben Vereen were among those who studied under and who were ordained by Dr. Coleman. Actress Della Reese and Iyanla Vanzant are said to also have studied under Dr. Coleman Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. and Louis Farrakhan were said to be two of her closest friends.

Dr. Coleman is said to have also opened churches in locations outside of Chicago. In fact, Until her retirement in 2006, Rev. Colemon ministered to 4,000 church members of the Christ Universal Temple and Complex in Chicago, and a total congregation of 22,000 members of 30 churches across the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean.

She was also a writer who authored the book, “Open Your Mind and Be Healed” and was known for spreading the gospel of success and prosperity.

Public visitation is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in the MLK Chapel at Leak & Sons Funeral Home, 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60619.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, in the main sanctuary/auditorium/chapel of Christ Universal Temple, 11901 South Ashland Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60643.

For information about funeral arrangements, please visit Christ Universal Temple’s website at www.cutemple.org or call (773) 568-2282.

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