Mrs. Ophelia Catherine Williams Coulter, 88, of Newton, peacefully transitioned on February 8, 2019 at Trinity Ridge Senior Living Community in Hickory. Mrs. Coulter was born in Cleveland County, April 4, 1930, the daughter of the late Wesley Williams and Estella Smarr Parker Williams. She married Harvey Lee Coulter on April 14, 1956.
He preceded her in death on April 10, 2005. She graduated from Davidson High School in Kings Mountain. She went on to graduate from Clinton Junior College and Livingstone College receiving her degree in Elementary Education.
She began her teaching career in Catawba County at Central School and ended her teaching career of over 30 years at Boiling Springs Elementary in 1990. Mrs. Coulter touched the lives of many the community, school, and church. She grew up in Vestibule African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Kings Mountain, NC and later became a member of Coulters Grove African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Newton, NC.
At Coulters Grove she was a member of the Trustee Board, Christian Education Department, Woman’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society, Life Matron of the Missionary Society, Chancel Choir, Stewardess Board, Distinguished Seniors Citizen Club, and Lay Council. She served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. She represented Coulters Grove at almost every District and Conference meeting for many years and served as the Church Delegate for multiple conference years.
She was an outspoken active member of Coulters Grove. She never left anything unsaid yet never held a grudge. When she felt changes needed to be made she was the advocating voice of fairness and order.
Mrs. Coulter did not need an organization, church, or title to do the right thing. She gave tirelessly of her time, money, and love. Where she saw a need, she met it without any thought of repayment.
Besides her late husband, Harvey Lee Coulter, she was preceded in death by her sisters Rebecca Dunlap and Equilla Barnett, her brother, Hiawatha Parker and recently, her special sister-in-law, Dorothy Coulter Reid. She is survived by her loving daughter, Oletha Coulter Rhinehardt, of Newton; two granddaughters, Olesha C. Rhinehardt of Hickory and Oriel C. Rhinehardt of Newton; one sister, Lestenia Williams McDowell of Kings Mountain, one special sister-in-law, Elizabeth Coulter Shuford of Greensboro, one adopted grandson, Reverend Dr. David Terrell Miller of Harrisburg, PA, and one adopted daughter, Dorothy Robinson of Newton. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, lovingly adopted family, and friends.
Although she only gave birth to one daughter, there are many that called her mom and she loved every last one. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ophelia Coulter please visit our Sympathy Store.
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