Mr. John Coker was born in a little community called "China" in Conecuh County near Evergreen, Alabama. He was one of 12 children. His father was a master basketmaker and so was Mr. John Coker. He made baskets that would hold as much as 125 lbs of materals. He move to Burnt Corn early in his life and brought property across the road from the African American Bephany Baptist Church. Even though Mr. Coker was a member of the Pilgrim Rest AME Zion Church where he served as a deacon. Pilgrim Rest AME Church located approximately a mile further down the road arcoss from Burnt Corn Junior High School. He built his home in 1954, which is located in Burnt Corn on the Burnt Corn-Peterman Road. John Coker occupation was farming even though he maintained his basket making on the side. He made "cotton" and "corn" baskets from selected oak splits. Mr Coker married Johnnie Mae Davison and had two sons, George Coker of Burnt Corn and Robert Coker of Springfield, Michigan. Mr. John Coker best friend was Joseph (Joe) Watson. They had nicknames for each other, John Coker called Joe Watson "Lawyer" and Joe Watson called John Coker "Cowboy." Why?? we don't know, the secret went with them to their graves. Both Mr. John Coker and his best friend Joe "Lawyer" Watson died on February 1991. Mr. John Coker referred to his wife Johnnie Mae in the community by her pet name as "that girl". Johnnie Mae was an Insurance Agent selling burial insurance for Unity Insurance Company for Robert Jones Funeral Home in Monroeville. Mrs. Johnnie Mae was the first person in Burnt Corn to own a Voltwagen Bettle which she said costed $1600.00. Their oldest son George went to college and taught school at Monroe County Training School now known as J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice, Alabama. Their youngest son Robert moved to Detriot, MI.
