Dr. Bob Coleman

Dr. Robert “Bob” Michael Coleman, age 79, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, on Lookout Mountain, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026.

Bob was born on December 1, 1946, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Percy and Vivian Coleman. He grew up in Vicksburg until the age of 12 and attended St. Aloysius School. After his family moved to Memphis, TN he graduated from Christian Brothers High School with honors and lettered in football. Bob then enrolled at Memphis State University and became a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at the University of Tennessee, School of Dentistry in 1973. While working as a dentist, Bob completed his orthodontic residency and received a Master of Science degree in orthodontics. In 1976, he returned to Vicksburg to begin his orthodontic practice, founding Coleman & Taylor Orthodontics, where thousands of beautiful smiles were created over his career that spanned 43 years.

In 1970, Bob married the love of his life, Cissy Wagner Coleman, and they built a beautiful life together that spanned nearly 56 years of marriage. They had 2 daughters and raised their small family in Vicksburg where they played tennis, spent weekends fishing and water skiing at Lake Bruin, and traveling to horse shows. A golf enthusiast, Bob relished the time he spent playing golf with his friends in Vicksburg, as well as going duck hunting and deer hunting on the weekends during the cooler months. When his girls were in high school, you would find him cheering them on at sporting events and performances. He had a great love of music, especially Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond, and was very fond of “The Phantom of the Opera”. He loved to take his daughters to concerts and always had great music playing in the car. Bob also enjoyed going to parties (hosting parties) and dancing.

After a couple of decades, Bob bought his first Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a new passion was born. He spent many years traveling with his best friends, sharing adventures on the open road, and getting to enjoy life in the fast lane. These same friends were a great source of comfort and friendship to him in his last years.

In the early 2000’s, Bob walked his daughters down the aisle and then taught his grandchildren how to fish and shared his love of country living with them. He always had room in his recliner at home for a grandchild to share that seat and read a story or watch a show. He delighted in taking his grandchildren out for a ride in his Ranger, a 4-wheeler, or just spending some time with them.

In 2019, Bob retired from orthodontics and moved from Vicksburg, MS to Lookout Mountain, GA with Cissy. They built a beautiful home together and enjoyed the stunning golf course at McLemore for several years, as well as treating their grandchildren to boat rides on the Tennessee River during the summers.

Bob was the ultimate optimist and believed the best in absolutely everyone he met. He had the innate ability to make one believe that they could do anything that they put their mind to, and he would pray or talk them through it, every step of the way. Everyone describes Bob Coleman as “the nicest man you’ll ever know” - and they are right!

A man of faith, Bob was active in the Catholic Church and attended St. Paul Catholic Church in Vicksburg, MS for most of his life. For the many years he lived in Memphis, Bob was a parishioner at St. Louis Catholic Church. Once moving to Georgia, he and Cissy became parishioners at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Percy and Vivian Coleman of Vicksburg; his sister, Marcia Kaldenhoven of Heemstede, The Netherlands; his aunt, Evelyn Conti White of Vicksburg; and his uncle, A.J. Conti of Metairie, Louisiana.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Cissy Wagner Coleman; daughters, Catherine (David) Boone of Overland Park, KS and Jennifer (Paul) Mortimer of Germantown, TN; and grandchildren, Mason Boone, Jackson Boone, Josh Tancrell, Kate Tancrell, and Grace Mortimer.

There will be a Funeral Mass celebrating Bob’s remarkable life at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church on Lookout Mountain in the near future. Bob will be interred at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Signal Mountain (where he and Cissy were married).

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Morning Pointe and Tapestry Hospice for their compassionate care and support. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to the American Heart Association for stroke research.