When Annie M. Coleman, and her husband, Reverend James E. Coleman, moved to Miami in 1922, “Colored Town” had no paved streets, no parks and no library. Mrs. Coleman’s vision and initiative made her a pioneer in obtaining these much- needed facilities.

Mrs. Coleman, a graduate of Paine College, had been in Miami only one year when she organized the Women’s Club, which later became the Murrell Branch of the YMCA. Later, concerned that there was no library for the children in her neighborhood, Mrs. Coleman used an unoccupied building on her property to start one. She was also in the forefront of the movement to allow blacks to serve as policemen in Miami. She pushed for the paving of neighborhood streets and raised funds for Christian Hospital.

In 1966, a 288-unit housing complex was built and named for her. The Annie Coleman Gardens is located at 2501 Northwest 56^th Terrace.