Carrie Sydnor Coffman of Leesburg, VA died September 27,2005 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 63 years old.
Mrs. Coffman was born November 27,1941 in Richmond, VA., daughter of the Rev. Charles William Sydnor, Jr and Caroline Rich Sydnor. She was a graduate of Duke University and University of Missouri’s School of Journalism where she was designated "Woman of the Year" for high accomplishment in writing and photography. She then dedicated these skills to Christian ministry work, serving under The Navigators in Malaysia, Kenya and in the US.
In 1989 she married Colonel King Coffman, USA (Ret.). Together they worked with Campus Crusade in Russia for 6 years after the collapse of Communism. Col. Coffman developed a Christian fellowship organization for Russian military officers similar to Officiers’Christian Fellorship in the United States. After his death, Mrs. Coffman continued to travel to Russia to aid in the strengthening and proliferation of this ministry throughout the new Russian states. She became fluent in the Russian language to better serve this ministry.
Mrs. Coffman is the author of four books, the most popular is Weary Warriors which is about the burn-out that people in Christian ministries can experience and how to prevent it. It is illustrated by her late husband.
Mrs. Coffman moved to Leesburg in 2002 to be near her husband’s family, Stephen and Lisa Coffman and their 4 children. She is a member of Reston Bible Church. She is survived by her mother, Caroline Rich Sydnor of Naples, FL; her brother, Charles William Sydnor, IV of Kathmandu, Nepal; and her sisters Gleaves Rhodes of Hilton Head Island, SC, Sarah Talbot of El Centro, CA and Jeannie Sydnor of Alexandria, VA.
The Memorial Service will be held at Reston Bible Church, Reston VA. on October19, 2005 at 10:00 am.
Memorial contributions may be made to the "Russian Military Ministry" % Reach Ministries International, PO Box 842, La Habra, CA 90633.
To be sent to:
Loudoun Times Mirror
Leesburg Today
Reston Times
Carrie is the granddaughter of Anna Maria Gleaves Rich and the great granddaughter of Charles Wythe Gleaves.