George Coleman, 86, journalist, historian

As a reporter and editor for the Atlanta Daily World for many years, beginning in the 1950s, George Coleman had a great deal of firsthand knowledge of Atlanta’s African-American community and the civil rights movement.

He also collected books about Atlanta history and the history of black Americans, said his daughter, Bernadette Lambert of Powder Springs.

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Family photo

In addition to writing for the Atlanta Daily World for many years, George Coleman wrote poetry, sketched, painted and studied history.

“He used to tell me, ‘I’m more of a historian than a journalist,’” said Mrs. Lambert. “He loved to talk about Atlanta history. You could sit down with him and learn a lot.”

Mr. Coleman, 86, of Atlanta, died Tuesday at Wesley Woods Hospice after a long battle with tonsil cancer. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul of the Cross Roman Catholic Church in Atlanta. Murray Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Coleman was an Atlanta native and graduated from Lincoln University of Missouri before returning to Atlanta to join the staff of the Atlanta Daily World.

He wrote poetry, sketched and painted. In 1961, Morris Brown College exhibited sketches he made for one of his poems.

He was a member of St. Paul of the Cross since 1955 and worked with the archdiocese to promote racial awareness, his family said.

Other survivors are his wife, Norma Coleman of Atlanta; daughters Minette Coleman of New York City and Jimmie Barnett of Columbus, Ga.; son George Coleman Jr., of Snellville; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.