James Lawrence Cole

Our dear James Lawrence Cole, a native Marylander and life-long resident of Baltimore City, was born at this city’s former Provident Hospital on Friday, March 4th, 1921. James was the only child of his proud parents, the late Rosa and Clarence Cole. In the late afternoon of Saturday, August 20th, 2011, as a conclusion to his own recognition of the slow, but steady, increase in some bothersome, age-related health inconveniences, our James quietly went Home to meet his Creator. In accordance with his oft-stated desire in recent months, he made the passage into eternity from his own home, with his beloved family near at hand. James, a tall man whose calm demeanor always seemed to exude a quiet dignity, had been raised a Christian in the Catholic faith, and he remained so throughout his life. His very first years of schooling were completed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Then, he graduated from Booker T. Washington Junior High and Fredrick Douglass Senior High schools. Always a good student, he went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University, and a master’s degree from Howard University, both as a History major. At Howard, James studied under the noted Black historian, the late Dr. Harold Lewis. Lewis extolled our James as an exemplary student of history- to other contemporary students! While a graduate student of Howard, James met another excellent student; one who was destined to become his future wife, Lottie Georgia Whiting Cole. His beloved Lottie and her “Cole” were married shortly after she had completed her master’s degree. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of Brenda Joy, their only child. These two had shared almost 55 years of married life prior to Lottie’s home-coming in 2008. “Cole”, as many knew him, spent a brief time as a Baltimore City teacher, however, in 1950; he began his extensive career with the United States Post Office, remaining with that agency until his retirement. A devoted Catholic who had spent his childhood as an only child, marriage brought James into quite a large, close extended family, peopled by many generations of Methodists, with only a few Baptist, Episcopalians and Presbyterians thrown in here and there, James was a fine Christian gentleman, and always supportive of evidences of faith in fellow Christians among his family of marriage. His extended family often noted, with appreciation, these evidences of his strength of character. Along with the gregarious Lottie, our James travelled throughout these United States, and to several foreign countries, as well. He was quite a thoughtful observer of human nature. Upon occasion, he would quietly share his theories concerning some of the problems, cultural and other issues which seem to have influenced the shape of political positions to be found in other nations in the world. Our James is survived by his dear, doting daughter, Brenda Joy Cole Gray; by his devoted son-in-law; Thomas Eugene Gray; by his wonderful grandchildren, Denise Cole Gray and David Thomas Gray; by his sister-in-law, Bernice M. Whiting Stepney and her husband, Arthur G. Stepney; by nephews, Reginald W. Stepney, N. Bernard Dunston and Reginald Dunston; and by several great-nieces, great-nephews, numerous cousins, close friends, neighbors, colleagues and others who have truly valued his earthly walk with them.

Tributes

James Lawrence Cole

March 4, 1921 - August 20, 2011