Obituary of Elaine Johnson Coates

Dr. Elaine Johnson Coates was born on September 15, 1937 in Baltimore, MD to Elmira (Alma) Little Johnson a domestic worker, and Robert Johnson Sr., a railroad porter. She was lovingly accepted into eternal rest on Feb 14, 2026, surrounded by her family, who immersed her in spiritual song, loving touch, praise to God, and scripture. She lived a full life rooted in faith, love, strength, and determination. Her character and steadfast commitment touched countless lives. With extraordinary dedication, she served as a devoted daughter and sister, trusted friend, fearless trailblazer, inspiring teacher and social worker, loving wife, amazing mother, cherished aunt, cousin, niece, wise counselor, sacrificial and adoring grandmother – and above all, a humble, gracious, and faithful child of God. Elaine was born into a nation built upon the blood, sweat and tears of original and descendent people of Native American and African descent. Their land, heritage, culture, beliefs, and freedom were stolen, forcefully suppressed, with the purposeful intention for their true history to be erased and forgotten. Yet from the painful atrocities arose people of strength, character, pride and fortitude. Among those who helped bend the arc toward justice was Elaine Johnson, whose life became part of the ongoing work to reshape this nations conscience, character and capacity for equity. Elaine received her primary education in the segregated public schools of Baltimore City. She attended Frederick Douglass High School, where she excelled as an Honor Society student. After the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling desegregating schools, Elaine set her sights on attending the University of MD College Park, which was newly accessible to her as a black student, with an additional opportunity to live on campus. She approached her high school counselor requesting a letter of recommendation. The counselor told her that she was "aiming too high" for her dark complexion and suggested that she find a secretarial job instead. Undeterred, she turned to her mother for guidance. Her mother's response was simple and life-changing: "You don't need anyone to recommend you - recommend yourself." Elaine did just that. She wrote her own letter of recommendation and was awarded a full four-year scholarship to UMCP for the fall of 1955. She was the first person in her entire family to ever attend college. Elaine was one of only seven Black students admitted that fall who would attend this large and populous university and live on campus. Seventeen-year-old Elaine walked onto campus and into her residence at Caroline Hall. While the laws had changed, many hearts had not. She faced isolation, hostility, threats, insults and insults from students. This was compounded by unfair treatment and even biased grading from professors. Steadfast, and unshaken, she refused to be intimidated or denied. With her head held high, she pressed forward looking beyond the barriers placed before her and marched on, firmly focused on her goal. Of the seven black students originally admitted to the University of Maryland College Park in the fall of 1955, Elaine was the SOLE student who stayed, endured all, and graduate in the spring of 1959! Elaine was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. She did not realize at the time that every hardship, every trial, every moment of focus and triumph– the entire journey would matter! Elaine's fight was not over, but neither were her accomplishments, successes, and honors. Elaine went on to become an educator at the same high school from which she graduated from, then became a social worker. Later, Elaine earned a Master's degree in social work at UMAB and obtained her certification as a Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical (LCSW-C). She became a supervisor and mentor to many. She additionally went on to work in providing social services to pediatric and adult trauma patients at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. After retiring in 2006, she continued counseling as a volunteer. In October 1960, at the age of 23, Elaine married her childhood sweetheart, James Zachariah Coates, Jr. Just one month later, tragedy struck when her beloved mother, Alma, died suddenly at the age of 46, while singing on the choir. Through her marriage she welcomed her son Jason Hamilton Coates in 1964 and daughter Tamara Elmira Coates in 1965. After 17 years, when her marriage ended in divorce, Elaine remained a loving and devoted single mother to her children. She worked full time by day, and studied by night earning her Masters Degree to provide for her family and expand her impact. Both of her children followed in her footsteps, becoming Terps at the University of Maryland, College Park. It was not until her daughter Tamara, was graduating in 1987 that Elaine began to have a glimpse of the broader significance of her own journey. She was sought out by the Baltimore Sun for a feature highlighting her experience as the University's first black graduate alongside her daughter's story as part of the next generation. More than two decades later, in 2011, her grandson searched her name online and discovered that the University had long been recognizing and honoring her historic contributions in print and in image. In her later years, Elaine received honor, recognition, love, welcome, respect and a sense of purposeful legacy from the University of Maryland College Park leadership, deans, alumni, and students. These moments and tributes brought her deep joy and a profound sense of fulfilled purpose through published interviews, television appearances, UMCP library archives, and a mural display at the Student Union. She was further honored as a privileged guest in the President's stadium suite and home, celebrated at numerous prestigious university events, and recognized with the establishment of an alumni award named in her honor. At the invitation of former University President Wallace Loh, she addressed the Spring 2019 graduating class at their commencement ceremony. In May 2020, University President Darryll Pines bestowed upon her an Honorary Doctorate degree. The College of Education established the Elaine Johnson Scholarship, endowed by alumni Patricia Koshiken and husband John, A state-of- the-art residence hall was constructed on campus and named in honor her and fellow trailblazer Hiram Whittle (Johnson-Whittle Hall). The University also commissioned an oil portrait of Elaine by alumnus and artist Ernest Shaw. In culmination, fittingly, her life celebration and homegoing service will be held on the campus of her Alma Mater - TRULY honoring and celebrating her life and legacy. Elaine carried with her enduring words of wisdom that were imagery for how she shaped her mentorship and lived her life: "Turn every scar into a star." "Don't except 'no' for an answer - go to the next person, then the next higher person." "It doesn't matter what they call you, it's what you answer to that matters". "When you walk into a room have your back straight, your shoulders high, and your head up – walk in with pride". "Be a person of your word, you cannot trust a liar", and so many more.Rooted in a strong Christian foundation, Elaine nurtured her love of singing in church choirs and groups, becoming known for her signature song "Life is a Ballgame". The lyrics are reflective of her enduring mantra. "Life is a ballgame, being played each day. Life is a ballgame, each and everybody must play. Jesus is standing at the homebase, and he's waiting for you there. You know life is a ballgame, but you have got to play if fair." Elaine Johnson Coates was preceded in death by her father Robert Johnson Sr., Mother Elmira (Alma) Little Johnson; brothers Lennel Kenneth Johnson and Robert (Heavy) Johnson Jr., and many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She leaves to mourn and celebrate her life: her son Jason Hamilton Coates; daughter Dr. Tamara Elmira Coates-Walker (Kevin); her beloved grandson Sebastian Niles Walker; her beloved granddaughter Dr. Paris Alexa Walker; special love Jessica Winfield-Davis; her dedicated niece Lynnette Johnson-Smith (John); close cousins Cynthia Smith, Loretta Little (James); mentee and adopted son Dr. Maurice Flemming; goddaughters Debra Little and Carlisa Brown; high school classmates and friends Lillian Locklear-Alston and Loretta Pique; close friends Louise Cole, Sharon Grover (Mark), Jean and Penny Robinson, Ron Allen (Alvonia), John and Leslie Ogungbemi, Lilli Epps; the University of MD College Park Leadership, Dept of Education, Alumni Association Terrapin Community; and a host of numerous other loved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, mentees, and generations present and future who are forever impacted by her life and legacy. On Saturday, February 21, 2026, a homegoing celebration for Dr. Elaine Johnson Coates will be held at the Memorial Chapel at University of Maryland, 7744 Regents Drive, in College Park, Maryland, where the family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. with services to follow. The Interment service will be held at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, 200 E. Padonia Road, on Monday, February 23, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. In leau of flowers, the family kindly ask that you honor Dr. Elaine Johnson Coates by visting the Scholarship Link listed below. https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__go.umd.edu_EJCoates&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=9tKfA3AoLhbrISue2TyR5acHAd0h31ah3qG3HWlLtkQ&m=1toZcHgTiqYDNtvobQNYA60toOKePRR8HCSxYPCDyrDLLE8-Shg_oX_nDVGqyeQv&s=J9VYHhvWSQoTojwLgVNXv41m7Dn3IMqiyy49WMjNXXA&e= WATCH: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.google.com_url-3Fq-3Dhttps-3A__umd.zoom.us_j_92769808148-26sa-3DD-26source-3Dcalendar-26ust-3D1771890885221079-26usg-3DAOvVaw3mKwr2sYaTxs8Pr8FuPmUo&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=9tKfA3AoLhbrISue2TyR5acHAd0h31ah3qG3HWlLtkQ&m=9OlDykHiHumGBXIq58pMcpBf5d5KSocF6DClHEjeMrw2ybVEOFF4VgVmz3dIbNIb&s=6pr-ZuROIw-6DIjmKRSX9JVUoVEfYC1vsn0PbgO2XT0&e= LISTEN: Call 1-301-715-8592.