Grape Creek – Family and friends have said goodbye to a Cherokee County titan who died last week.
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Stephen “Cold Cash” Coleman died June 7 at the age of 69 following a battle with COVID-19. Coleman was well known as an automobile salesman, working at several local dealerships over a 27-year career. He also was involved in local politics, serving as chairman of the Cherokee County Republican Party and making an unsuccessful run for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners in 2019.
“He was just an absolute joy to be around,” said his daughter, Beth Coleman McDonald. “He was always looking at things from a very joyous perspective, but also a very realistic perspective. He was such a joy. He was always so joyous, jolly and just an absolute pleasure to be around.”
She recalled his skill as a salesman and businessman, which earned him his “Cold Cash” moniker.
“I swear, I think my daddy could sell a snowball to an Eskimo,” McDonald said. “One time he called me from Walmart, and he said, ‘You’re gonna have to come pick me up,’ and I said, ‘Well, how come,’ and he said, ‘I just sold my truck.’ ”
“He loved trading dogs, trading horses,” she added.
McDonald recalled his support and love as a father and grandfather, with him always telling her to take care of her kids.
“That’s what the always said, ‘Take care of them kids,’ ” McDonald said.
She said he was very close to his nine grandchildren, including four biological grandchildren and five step-grandchildren. McDonald also recalled his ability as a singer, with him singing at his own funeral on May 10 at Grape Creek Baptist Church by means of a recording he made years ago.
She said the recording was made several years ago in honor of a son who died and his grandchildren.
“It was extremely hard – very, very hard – but it was perfect,” McDonald said.
She said her daughter, Bailey Brown, often sang with him and also performed at the memorial.
“She didn’t think she could do it live, so we recorded it and played it (at the memorial),” McDonald said.
She said he had an impact on many people.
“He touched the heart of every person that ever knew him,” McDonald said.
She also recalled him changing the spelling of her daughter’s name from “Baylie” to “Bailey” on her birth certificate to be spelled exactly like his late father’s name.
“He stayed for the entire labor,” McDonald said. “He stayed for her birth, and while I was being sewed up from having this child, my daddy changed the spelling of the name on the birth certificate.
“When they brought it back in to show me, I said, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not right,’ Dad said, ‘Yes, that is right. that’s the way it’s spelled. You had it wrong,’ and I said ‘OK,’ so that’s how her name is spelled, exactly like my grandfather’s.”
She said his constant phone calls to her and his grandchildren would be missed more than anything.
“He called everybody at least once or twice a day, so I think everybody’s going to miss hearing from him on a daily basis,” McDonald said.