DANVILLE — Friends and loved ones of the Coffman family have set up a fund to continue the legacy of one of Danville Area Community College’s most beloved instructors.

Mary Coffman, a 54-year-old DACC retiree, passed away May 1, stunning all who knew her.

Coffman was involved in an array of professional association and community groups, but she also was the mother of an 11-year-old daughter.

Elizabeth Coffman-Mackey will begin college in just seven years, so close friends, including Mary’s former teacher and colleague, Martha Kay, have set up an account that will provide for Elizabeth’s college education.

“We haven’t set any goal,” Kay said of the donations.

“We’re encouraging people to give what they can in memory of Mary. Some of them have been quite generous.”

Kay just began receiving initial donations last week for a fund kept at First National Bank.

The bank will act as trustee.

The account will remain open, but Kay and others would like those interested to contribute on key dates like Elizabeth’s birthday, the anniversary of Coffman’s death, Christmas or other times when contributions are appropriate. Donations will be accepted until she turns 18.

Just a year ago, Kay and her granddaughter and Coffman and Elizabeth traveled to London on a trip that celebrated Coffman’s 2007 retirement after 31 years at DACC. She still taught part-time until her death.

Kay hired Coffman to begin teaching in 1975, when Coffman was just a 21-year-old who’d finished a graduate degree.

“She was my student and I hired her, brought her to tenure,” Kay said. “This time last year we were in London together … I’m so glad we went to London just in time.”

In an interview with the Commercial-News in May 2007, Coffman spoke of her unique ability as a community college teacher.

“The community college seemed like both a nicely motivated population and one that needed good teachers. So many are first-generation college students. I liked giving them special attention,” Coffman said then.

Coffman was also a Fulbright Scholar who traveled to China in 1994 for the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs.

Kay and Coffman had been scheduled to teach a Shakespeare class together this fall at DACC.

Kay said the DACC community is still shocked by the loss.

“People are still stunned. They just can’t believe it. We can’t imagine what it will be like without Mary.

“She was so present and so full of life. There’s just such a black hole where she used to be.”

Elizabeth has done very well over the last month and a half, Kay said. The 11-year-old is taking art classes she’s enjoyed

“She’s cheerful, bouncing around … she’s got her head on straight like her mom. She’s our little Mary now.”

Kay also said James Mackey, Coffman’s husband and Elizabeth’s dad, is coping well.

In addition to the fund for Elizabeth, another has been set up for in Coffman’s honor for DACC liberal arts students.

DACC Foundation director Tracy Wahlfeldt said the $500 scholarship is aimed at creative writing and humanities full-time students who maintain a B average.

One scholarship will be awarded per year and may be used for books or tuition.

“We’d like to raise enough money to endow (the fund),” Wahlfeldt said, which means the fund’s interest will generate the scholarship.

A short-term goal would be $10,000, she said.

“This is quite a lasing tribute to Mary Coffman’s life and a contribution to the education of students here at DACC,” Wahlfeldt said.

FOR MORE INFO

Those interested in contributing to the Elizabeth Coffman-Mackey Scholarship Fund can make a check out to the fund’s name and send it to Martha Kay at 131 Sportsman Club Road, Danville, IL 61832. Organizers would like to begin investment in the fund July 1.

For more information about contributing to the DACC scholarship in Mary Coffman’s honor, contact DACC Foundation director Tracy Wahlfeldt at 443-8772 or twahlfeldt@dacc.edu.