BEAUMONT, Texas — Southeast Texans are remembering a longtime volunteer and community servant who worked to help people experiencing homelessness.
Wesley Coleman from Kountze died Monday at 59-years-old following a two-week battle with a respiratory illness.
Coleman spent the last 10 years helping people in downtown Beaumont through Night Strike Ministries.
12News spoke with some of the people who know Coleman best. They say he was the backbone of their organization.
Coleman spent his final years fighting for those experiencing homelessness in Beaumont. He wanted to make a difference on the streets he once called home.
"He was the greatest advocate for the homeless in Beaumont, Texas than any man ever because of his fighting spirit," said Billy Campbell, Chairman of Night Strike.
Campbell and Sandra Hammond with Night Strike Ministries remember their close friend and founder, as a man who was saved so he could serve.
"He would say that he loved smoking crack, and would get out here and drive these streets looking for a fight. But that spirit changed," Campbell said.
Campbell says Coleman went from fighting for his next fix, to fighting for those on the street who he knew needed help the most.
He was a man brought back to the light during dark times.
"There was not a person that he met that he did not make him immediately feel welcome, loved, that they were valued," Hammond said. "He was a testament to say that if God can do this for me, he can do this for anybody."
Coleman brought joy to a community who let their love for his be known all across social media. For the hope and support he gave with Night Strike Ministries.
"You will have 25 to 30 volunteers here on any given Night Strike night, and probably 50 to 75 guests that we will serve a meal. And we would be out here until sometimes, you know, 9, 10:00 at night. He didn't pick up the tables and chairs with when the volunteers were ready to go, the tables and chairs got picked up when the guests were ready to go," Hammond said.
She says Coleman never missed Night Strike's mission, the first Friday of every month.
"Rain, freezing weather, it doesn't matter," said Hammond.
Campbell and Hammond say it's not what Coleman did. They believe it's what God did through him.
"Well, he definitely had a vision, and his vision was truly contagious," said Campbell.
"You talk about having a hole in your heart after you lose somebody, there's a hole in the city after losing Wesley," Campbell said.
Campbell says Coleman's funeral will be held at Victory Temple Church in Beaumont. More details of the funeral are pending.
A GoFundMe has been set up to cover the costs for his burial. People have already donated more than $6,000.