Mrs. Betty Alford Coleman, age 89, of Murfreesboro, TN passed away Sunday, August 14, 2016. She was born in Troy, AL to the late William and Thekla Demharter Alford. Mrs. Coleman was a proud graduate from the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago as a teenager before graduating from Phillips High School in Birmingham, AL. She then earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from MTSU before beginning a lengthy musical career. Mrs. Coleman performed for the armed forces at USO centers with her sister, Rose, as the duo, The Alford Sisters. She and Rose were students and taught at Arthur Murray Dance Studio. They auditioned and were chosen for the Rockettes in New York City. She taught private piano and guitar lessons for over 50 years. Mrs. Coleman also served as the organist and choir director for Northminster Presbyterian Church, organist at Trinity and Blackman United Methodist Churches, and for 19 years taught Sunday School at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. She was the pianist and director of the Great American Sing-a-long. Mrs. Coleman enjoyed teaching young women in the Girl Scouts for over 20 years. She was a member of the D.A.R. Col. Hardy Murfree Chapter. She even found time to earn her 4th degree Black Belt in Wado-Ryo Karate.

Mrs. Coleman is survived by her son, Ned Coleman; daughter, Mitzi Hughes and her husband Mike; grandchildren, Shelby, Evan, and Hannah Hughes; family friend, Heather Corban all of Murfreesboro; brother, Percy Alford of Milton, FL; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gregg Coleman; son, Roy Milan Coleman; sister, Rose Newport; and aunt, Mary Demharter.

Visitation with the family will be Friday, August 19, 2016 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Graveside services will be Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 11:00am at Evergreen Cemetery. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.