Oakdale-Celebration of Life services honoring Ima Hebert Coleman, 94, will be held on Saturday morning, September 13, 2025, at 11 o'clock a.m. at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale. Rev. Charles Seal will officiate. Ima will be laid to rest at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Melder, LA immediately following her services.

Ima's family will receive friends and visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale on Saturday morning, September 13, 2025, from 9 o'clock a.m. until time of service. All of Ima's arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale.

Ima was truly "one of a kind", strong willed and independent! After graduating from Forest Hill High School in 1947 as salutatorian, at age 16, she received a scholarship in "secretarial and bookkeeping" to Elliott Business College in Beaumont, Texas, enrolling a few months later and graduating the following year. She then returned to Alexandria and began working for Hemingway Furniture Company as a bookkeeper and living in a boarding house. After her sister, Peggye, graduated high school in 1951 they both moved to Beaumont and she began her career with Sun Oil Company as a business secretary. One day in 1956, while on her lunch break walking around downtown Beaumont, she saw a 1956 Chevrolet Belair 2 door hardtop in the showroom and told me "I just had to have it". As a young brother, it was the prettiest car I had ever seen, turquoise and white with chrome everywhere! It was the car I learned to drive in. She and some of her friends made a trip to Yellowstone National Park a few years later in that car. She remained in Beaumont until her marriage in 1966 to Dr. Charles Coleman at which time she relocated to Buna, Texas. Ima was active in his medical practice working in the office until his death in 1983. She then moved back to Beaumont and continued her career working at several medical offices. In 2006 Ima moved back to Alexandria and enjoyed her final years with family and friends. Her years at Regency House had many funny moments with her strong will and independence shining through. I think you could say she always had an "eye for the boys" or maybe even call her a "flirt" and that never ended. During the past few years she became somewhat fascinated with bald men and even had a sign for them; with her index finger she would point toward the top of her head and then give them an "OK" sign with her hand, a sign of approval from her!

Ima loved her family; mother, dad, siblings and although she had no children of her own, she treated all of her nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren as her own.

Ima attended several Baptist Churches over her lifetime and had a very strong religious belief.

Those left to cherish Ima's memory include her two brothers, Jasper "Jackie" and Maurice Hebert; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Ima is preceded in death by her parents, Elza and Grace Bonnnette Hebert; her husband, Charles Wade Coleman; and two sisters, Bobbye Hebert Glass and Peggye Hebert Tisdale.

Honorary Pallbearers are Terry Glass, Steve Tisdale, Patrick Tisdale, Ron Hebert, Michael Glass, Anderson Hebert, Addison Hebert, Colin Westmoreland, and Aaron Westmoreland.

Family would like to send there heartfelt appreciation to Compassionate Care Hospice, Allison Young and team, and Regency Home staff for the care and compassion they gave.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with Ima's family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook-Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.