Former Tennessee state Rep. Jim Coley died at age 70 on Sunday. The retired Republican left the state legislature last November, after being diagnosed with dementia. The Memphis Flyer reports he’d been receiving chemotherapy for myeloma cancer.
Coley was voted into office in 2006 representing East Memphis and Cordova.
His former Democratic colleague Rep. Antonio Parkinson shared about his experience working with Coley over the years.
I just learned of the passing of State Rep. Jim Coley. Jim Coley was one of the kindest, most compassionate persons I knew in the TN legislature. He NEVER let partisanship drive his decision making. He was about the people. His experience as an educator was invaluable to (1/2)
— State Representative Antonio Parkinson (@TNRepParkinson) October 11, 2021
Parkinson also remembered him as a force in the fight against human and sex trafficking.
Last year, the legislature passed the Jim Coley Protection for Rape Survivors Act. The law allows victims to track sexual assault kits and extends the shelf life of those kits from three to 10 years.
Coley leaves behind his wife Paula and two children. His son, Evan, said on Facebook that the family would keep the public updated on Coley’s memorial service.
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