Second Missionary Baptist Church (SMBC) announces the retirement of Music Coordinator Paula Coleman, who is retiring after forty years of dedicated service to the church. The community is invited to a reception in her honor on December 31, 2023, following the morning worship service in the McDaniel-Strickland Multi-Purpose Room. Mrs. Coleman plans to retire at the end of the year.
In 1983, Paula Renee Coleman started on her journey as a musician in Second Baptist’s music ministry. However, unbeknown to her, this journey would last four decades! She began under the tutelage of Mrs. Catherine Roddy, Minister of Music, who studied at the Juilliard School of New York. Under Mrs. Roddy’s direction, Mrs. Coleman would learn the importance of incorporating the genre of music that compliments a diverse age group and inspires the presence of the Holy Spirit during the worship service.
During her forty-year musical career, Mrs. Coleman has played for several local churches. Among them are: Greater Friendship Baptist Church on Park Avenue (Rev. Flenoy, pastor); Mt. Canaan Baptist Church (Rev. Melvin Jordan, pastor); New Zion Baptist Church (Rev. Allen, pastor); Stanley United Methodist Church (Rev. Velma Smith, pastor); Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and Gethsemane Baptist Church (Rev. Woods, pastor).
Her experience also includes working with many other musicians and choirs throughout the years. She began playing for the SMBC Youth Choir, then the Children’s Choir, the Adult Choir and the Mass Choir. She has served faithfully and coordinated many special services at Second, including annual observances for Women’s Day, Men’s Day, Youth and Children’s Day, as well as funeral services and the weekly Sunday services.
Mrs. Coleman executed her duties with expertise and grace, such as selecting appropriate songs for the choirs and soloists, scheduling and directing rehearsals and inviting guest vocalists and musicians for special occasions.
Mrs. Coleman is also very diligently involved in community and professional organizations. She is an active member of the Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a private not-for-profit service organization. Her career experience included employment at the Tennessee Valley Authority, the City of Chattanooga, the Westside Community Development Corporation and the Hamilton County School System. Moreover, she is a member and instructor of African-American Studies in the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
We extend our sincerest congratulations to Mrs. Coleman for her dedicated service throughout her tenure. Her exceptional playing style and knowledge of the church music genre (gospel, hymns, contemporary, anthems and Negro Spirituals) has immensely enriched the music ministry of Second Missionary Baptist Church.
SMBC is located in Chattanooga at 2305 E. Third Street. Dr. Ernest L. Reid, Jr., is Senior Pastor. For more information or to RSVP, you may call (423) 624-9097 during weekdays after 9:00 a.m. or email secretary@mysmbchurch.org.