Obituary of Annie Ruth Cole

OBITUARY

Annie Ruth Jackson Cole

Annie Ruth Jackson Cole was born on April 18, 1937 to the late Noah Jackson and Zora Mayo Jackson.  She was one of twenty-one children. On December 8, 2017, Annie Ruth took her earthly rest and went home to be with the Lord.

Annie Ruth was educated in Cumberland County, North Carolina Public School system where she excelled academically. Shortly after graduation, on April 7, 1956, she married the love of her life Joe Louis Cole. To this union five children were born:  Donald Cole, JoeAnn Cole Cromwell, Patricia Ann Cole Cain, Gregory Louis Cole, and William Edward Cole. The couple remained married for 61 years.

Annie Ruth was employed at Picatinny Arsenal United States Army Base located in Morristown, NJ for six years.  After her division’s closing, she began a career at Lyons VA Hospital and retired from this position after working faithfully for over 25 years. Upon retirement, she took an associate sales position at Burlington Coat Factory in Elizabeth, NJ. She remained there for the next 3 years until she relocated to North Carolina.  

Annie Ruth gave her life to the Lord at an early age, but chose to be baptized again in 1997 when she became a member Clear View Baptist Church in Newark, NJ.  She remained a faithful member until her relocation to North Carolina in 2010.  After residing in North Carolina for a few years, Annie Ruth returned to New Jersey in 2014 and reinstated her membership.  Annie Ruth was unable to participate in worship services as lively as she had in previous years, due to her lengthy illness.

Prior to her illness, Annie Ruth, also known as “Boot”, truly enjoyed bowling, her music, spirit-filled church services, watching her stories, and cooking large meals.  She was famous for her Mama’s Love banana pudding, homemade ice cream and the absolute best cakes and pies in the world. She would feed anybody, but loved preparing breakfast for her grandchildren most of all.   Quite the character, Annie Ruth always made people smile with her jokes, her very distinct voice and her infectious laugh.  She was also very friendly, outspoken, and would say “whatever came to her mind.” Even up to her last days, people often complimented her long, pretty, silver hair and her beautiful, smooth skin.

Annie Ruth was predeceased by her parents: Noah and Zora, seven sisters: Minnie Lee Leak, Roxie Cook, Margaret Jackson, Sarah Jackson, Mary Nell Stovall, Martha Whitted, Beatrice Lucas, and ten brothers: Robert McCall, Noah Jackson, Jr., Rufus McCall, Johnny McCall, James Archie McCall, Joe Jackson, Alphonsa McCall, Ervin McCall, Larry McCall, and Lonnie Jackson; and two brothers-in-law: Willie Douglas Cole and Raymond Cole.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Joe Louis Cole; her five children: Donald, JoeAnn (David), Patricia (Reginald), Gregory (Debbie), and William (Mary); seven grandchildren: Phillip Cole, Gregory Cole, Jr., Jamal Willis Cain, Chakia Cole, Alysha Cole, Terria Cole, RhaShanai Cole, and Tia Cole; eight great grandchildren: Adonis, Dallas, Jamal, Jr., Aniyas, Zoe, Trinity, Peyton and Caleb; One brother: Lewis J. McCall (Joyce), three sisters: Margeline Melvin (Shelton), Catherine Moore, Zora Pitts; seven sisters-in-law: Ruth McCall, Catherine McCall, Allene Mullen, Rev. Willie Bell Jackson, Margaret McCall, Betty Jackson and Inez Cole; two God-daughters: Priscilla Stokes and Donna Willis Woods, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.