Mr. John O. Coar, Sr., 96, of Phenix City, AL passed Thursday, March 2, 2023 in Phenix City, AL surrounded by his two loving nieces, Nakita Pitts and Vicky Coar.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. EST, Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Phillips Temple C.M.E Church, Phenix City, AL with Rev. Gerald Rowe, pastor, Presiding Elder James Q. Smith, (MPCO) Montgomery, Phenix City, Opelika District, officiating and Pastor John C. Coar, eulogist. Burial to follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Phenix City, AL. Visitation is Friday, March 17, 2023 from 3-5 p.m. EST.

Mr. Coar was born September 14, 1926 in Salem, AL to the late John Robie Coar, Sr. and the late Clara M. Woodson Coar.

He was united in holy matrimony on September 8, 1946 to Viola Hall Coar, who preceded him in death. They were married for 64 years and to this union four children were born, John, Jr., Otis, Ola and Larry.

Mr. Coar accepted Christ at an early age and he sang in a quartet with the Bible Tones.

He was an active member of Garner Bass C.M.E Church/New John Wesley C.M.E Church where he served as the president of the Male Choir, Trustee Board, Steward Board ad Recording Steward at John Wesley.

Mr. Coar ran John Wesley Church. Mrs. Coar and Mrs. Claudia and Mr. Coar were the choir and never missed a choir anniversary anywhere. When Elders wanted to know anything about John Wesley, they called him. He served as the head electrician at Garner Bass and held the keys to the church until December of last year when his health began to fail.

He was the second African American to earn his license as an electrician in the state of Alabama. He retired from Chloride Battery Plant Co. and was also the first African American to own an electrical business, Coar's Electric, DBA.

Mr. Coar was preceded in death by his wife, Viola Coar; son, John O. Coar, Jr., siblings, John R. Coar, Jr., Eulis M. Coar and Claudia Mae Coar Thompson and stepmother, Alberta Monk Coar.

He leaves to cherish his memories two sons, Otis Coar (Barbara), Temple, GA and Larry D. Coar, Sr. (Vivian), Allenhurst, GA; daughter, Ola Mae Faison, Hinesville, GA; 11 grandchildren; 25 great grandchidren; one great great grandchild; a very special nephew, Curtis Thompson; a very special family friend, Ethel P. Williams; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends.