Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon was born in 1920 Columbus, Mississippi. She earned her B.A. degree from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. She began her career as a teacher in Chicago Public Schools. In 1952, she was diagnosed with an incurable disease and enrolled in the Unity School of Christianity in Missouri. She became an ordained minister. In 1956, Colemon founded Christ Universal Temple, which grew to 15,000 members. She was also director of the Chicago Port Authority and Commissioner of the Chicago Transit Authority Oversight Committee. Coleman was selected as one of Chicago's Living Legends by the Institute for African American Youth Development. Coleman was also the recipient of other awards and recognitions including proclamations from the state of Illinois and the cities of Oakland, California, and Miami, Florida. She was the author of the book Open Your Mind and Be Healed. Colemon passed away on December 23, 2014 at age 94.
Alternative title
History Makers video oral history with Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon