Willeta Coquese Goines was born on August 30, 1943 to Roy Lee Nichols and Loevia May Nichols. Shortly after her birth, her father was killed in action during WWII. Unfortunately, she never got to meet her father. The youngest of four children, Willeta, who preferred the name Coquese, spent much of her early life in the care of her beloved grandmother. After her mother Loevia remarried to Jim Stephenson, Coquese went to live with her mother, step-father, and siblings. At the age of 15 she married Jerry Richardson, and in 1959 she welcomed a son named Dennis. In 1963, she gave birth to her daughter, Tammy. Coquese and Jerry divorced when Tammy was 15.

Coquese loved being a mother and supported her children's dreams and aspirations. She was so proud of Dennis when he joined the Marine Corps. Tammy wanted to pursue a college degree, so Coquese worked hard to send her to school. She was an involved parent, and made sure to show up for her children as they accomplished their goals. In 1980, Coquese remarried to Jeffrey Goines, and in 1984, they became grandparents to Jacob, the son of Dennis and Susan. Being a grandparent was the highlight of Coquese's life, and she became affectionately known to her grandchildren as Meemaw, as named by Jacob. Her husband Jeff became known as Peepaw.

In 1987, Coquese was overjoyed to welcome her twin granddaughters Kacey and Korey. In 1991, her sweet grandson Kodey was born. Coquese, now called Meemaw, made it a point to be there for every milestone her grandchildren accomplished. Whether it be dentist appointments, sick days, sports games, or school events, Meemaw showed up. Her support was unwavering, and her love for them knew no bounds. A jack of all trades, Meemaw used her weekends with her grandchildren to teach them all the things that had been taught to her. She helped them learn to cook, sew, crochet, and paint, just to name a few. She told the world's greatest bedtime stories and gave legendary hugs. Meemaw also never missed an opportunity to spoil her grandchildren absolutely rotten.

Meemaw was thrilled when her youngest grandaughter Bradley was born in 2009 to her daughter Tammy. Though she wasn't as spry as she was when her older grandchildren were born, she still showed up for Bradley the way that she had for them. She made it to as many events and milestones as she could despite her declining health.

In 2012, Meemaw became a great-grandmother when her great-grandson Cash was born to her grandaughter Kacey. Meemaw loved being a great-grandmother just as much as being a grandmother, and she poured her heart into the next generation of her family as well. Damian, Keely, Oliver, and Calvin came in subsequent years, and with each new member of her family, Meemaw solidified her status as the best grandmother ever. She showered each of them with love and supported them as much as she could. Meemaw never let her health stop her family from knowing how much she loved them.

Coquese, also known as Meemaw, the cherished matriarch of her family, passed away peacefully surrounded by those that she loved so dearly on the afternoon of May 23, 2026. She is preceded in death by her mother Loevia, father Roy, step-father Jim, sister Carline, nephew Ed, and great-grandson Damian. She is survived by her loving husband Jeff, brother John, sister Betty, son Dennis, daughter Tammy, grandchildren Jacob, Kacey, Korey, Jeremy, Kodey, Bradley, and great-grandchildren Cash, Keely, Oliver, and Calvin. She also leaves behind many friends. Her trademark wit and sense of humor will be eternally missed by those that had the pleasure of knowing her. She was a gift to all she encountered, and her loss is already felt by those that loved her.