Buena Vista Coggin

Mrs. Buena Vista Rankin Coggin, 83, of Rockingham, died Friday, February 11, 2011 at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham. Mrs. Coggin was born January 8, 1928 in Richmond County, a daughter of the late Hope and Gladys Thomas Rankin. She was a graduate of Ellerbe High School, Class of 1945, and also a graduate of the School for Executive Development - The Institute of Financial Education. She had taught several savings and loan courses at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte for the Institute of Financial Education and at Appalachian State University for the North Carolina Academy for Savings and Loan. She began her working career as a clerk with Rose’s 5 & 10 cent Store in Rockingham. In February 1946 she joined Richmond Federal Savings and Loan as a teller and held various jobs there until her retirement in 1990 as the President and Chief Executive Officer. She was the first woman to be elected as a director and to serve as President and Chief Executive Office with Richmond Federal Savings and Loan. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Rockingham, where she had been a member of the Chancel Choir, the Board of Trustees and had been a Sunday school teacher for 35 years. She had served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Rockingham District of the United Methodist Church and the Board of Trustees of Methodist College in Fayetteville. She had been a volunteer at the Hermitage Retirement Center where she had led devotions and read stories to the residents. She had served on the Board of Directors on several local associations including Richmond County Chamber of Commerce, Richmond County Heart Association, Richmond County Rescue Squad, Richmond County Hospice, Richmond County Habitat for Humanity and Rockingham Rescue Squad. She had held offices and served on the Board of Directors for many State and National associations including North Carolina League of Savings Institutions, North Carolina Group of Financial Managers, Human Relations Committee of National Finance Managers Society, United States League of Saving Institutions, and Mutual Council of Savings Institutions. She had published articles in Federal Home Loan Bank Board Journal, National Financial Managers Society Quarterly Statement, Richmond County Journal and the Charlotte Observer. She had been listed in the World’s Who’s Who of Women, Who’s Who of American Women and the American Biographical Institute. She was preceded in death by her husbands, John Robert Covington and Charles C. Coggin. Surviving are her daughter, Myra Covington Benoist of the home; two step daughters, DeLois Coggin of Pinehurst and Robin Coggin of Southern Pines; brothers, Don Rankin of Greensboro, Tom Rankin of Hamlet; sister, Lucille Smith of Rockingham and numerous nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Noon, Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Allison Farrah officiating. The family will see friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Richmond County Humane Society, P.O.Box 2064, Rockingham, NC 28380.