James Daniel Coggin PhD

James D. Coggin, PhD, age 90 of 193 Chickadee Road passed away unexpectedly Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Danville Regional Medical Center. Jim was born in Badin, NC July 21, 1926 the son of the late Jerry “Dumas” Coggin and Grace Jenkins Coggin. He retired in 1987 from Fairfax County Public Schools as a guidance counselor. He was a member of Ringgold Baptist Church. A Navy veteran, he graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.A. Jim was an ordained Baptist minister having studied at Crozet Theological Seminary. He served several churches as the Minister of Education before his career in public education. Jim received his Master's Degree in Counseling from the University of Virginia and began doctoral studies at UVA and completed his doctorate at Pacific Western University in 1985. He lived a full, active life. Jim enjoyed riding his motorcycle to work (too cool) and he loved sports especially baseball and football being somewhat partial to the Redskins and the Washington Nationals. During his later years and after he got his sports package from Comcast, he was a truly happy fellow. He could spend a whole day watching sports if he was not involved in an engrossing mystery novel. He loved reading and began each day reading a Biblical scripture. Another favorite was being a handyman, a tinkerer. He loved working on anything with a motor. He even managed to get his head in the oil pan when changing oil in his truck. Jim was actually a rather good mechanic, but sometimes things just did not work out. In his younger years, during the summer he operated a small marine repair shop in Reedville, VA. As the captain of the ship (the Anabasis and Jiggs, his cabin cruisers)he loved cruising the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River fulfilling his love of the water and fishing. A happy man who loved God, his family and his friends. His first wife, Margaret Fales Coggin, and the mother of his children died Thanksgiving Day, 1977. On April 2, 1983 he married Maude (Doodlebug) Young. Jim moved from Woodbridge, VA to Danville, VA in October, 1997 to prepare the home for Maude's retirement from Prince William County Schools in January 1998. Jim is survived by his wife of 33 years, Maude of the residence; his daughter Vicky Coggin and husband Lee Geier of Thornton, NH, son-in-law James Davis of Alexandria, VA , brother-in-law Pastor Dr.Vander Warner, Chesterfield, VA and brother-in-law C. Lyn Fales, Jr. of Newport News, VA and a large number of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret, his daughter Amy Coggin and siblings Col. Roy Coggin, Lewis Bain Coggin, Beverly Coggin Williams and Jane Coggin Warner. He was also predeceased by his princess, Miss Jill, a sweet, loving little dog who was his delight for 15+ years A Memorial Service in celebration of a life well-lived will be held at 2:00 p.m, Saturday, September 10 at Ringgold Baptist Church officiated by Pastor Duane Caldwell and Pastor Carl Burger. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and at other times at the residence at 193 Chickadee Road. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Ringgold Baptist Church, God's Pit Crew, Danville Humane Society, Blairs Volunteer Fire Department or the charity of choice. Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel is serving the Coggin family. In closing, Jim remarked to a close friend when his wife Margaret died of cancer at a young age “The Lord is always on time. He is never late”. I am truly blessed to have had Jim for 33 years.

James Daniel Coggin PhD

July 21, 1926 - September 1, 2016