Vanessa Darlene Short Anderson Coleman

Vanessa Darlene Short Anderson Coleman, 70, of Ashland, KY, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, KY.

Mrs. Coleman was born November 5, 1954, in Ashland, KY, to the late William “Bill” Proctor Short and Reba Darlene Rice Short.

In addition to her parents, Vanessa was preceded in death by her first husband, Billy Joe "Whitey" Anderson; brother, William Perry Short; and her sister, Melessa Short.

Vanessa was a licensed cosmetologist, a former state-registered nurse aide at Kingsbrook Lifecare Center in Ashland, KY. She devoted many years to community service, including Little League Youth Sports and Russell-Flatwoods Little League. She was a prayer counselor for WTSF and hosted the Christian radio show called “Sword of the Spirit”. She was a former member of the Raceland Legion Women’s Auxiliary Post 43 and was a member of First Baptist Church of Flatwoods. Vanessa’s greatest accomplishments were raising her three beautiful children, where she spent many hours volunteering at their various sporting events. She was also an avid storm chaser and photographer.

Vanessa is survived by her loving husband of eighteen years, Gilbert Coleman of Ashland, KY; her son, James (Kelli) Anderson of Greenup, KY; five daughters, Stephanie (Seth) Hicks of Catlettsburg, KY, Amanda (Paul) Hughes of Raceland, KY, Tammy (Chris) Whitt of Dayton, OH, Kimberly Caines of Ashland, KY, and Valarie Coleman of Ashland, KY; eighteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Martha (Dudley) Barker of Raceland, KY and Reba Kay Nolan of Ashland, KY; sister-in-law, Arlene Short of Raceland, KY; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Bailey Family Funeral Home at Flatwoods, KY with Pastor Jim Nichols and Bro. Dave Daniels officiating. Burial will follow at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens in Russell, KY.

Visitation will be one hour before the service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Condolences can be expressed at www.baileyfamilyfuneralhome.com.