Edward Lee Cole

Edward Lee Cole
11/7/1927 – 4/9/2024 born in Atlanta Georgia
Husband to Ruth Ellen Terry Cole) since 10/1/1948. (deceased)
Son to Price Edward Cole (deceased) and Ester Palee Cain Cole (deceased)
Father to Peggy Cole, Terry Cole (deceased) and Mary Cole Braun
Grandfather to Taylor Braun, Madison Braun and Shane Ziegler
Brother to Billy D Cole

The Hebrew name Edward means "guardian of property" while the Hebrew meaning of Lee is "peace, strength, hope, blessing and favor in God's Prescence."

Our dad was someone who always felt a love of property. No matter how much work it took to maintain it, owning or “guarding” property was important to him. In Fairview, we had 64 acres that once was all woods, but Daddy and our Papa built a pond, a private airstrip, and trails for us kids to escape and play. Our dad's escape was to go work on the property or his airplane while Mama managed the house, kids and basically everything else. So, the name Edward seems very fitting for a man who loved being outside working on something until all hours of the evening. Dad was also known to be available to help others in the neighborhood. He and our Mama were founding members of the Fairview Civic Club and helped raise money to build the ball fields, pave the roads and make sure the kids stayed out of trouble by having areas for them to play.

The name “Lee” also reflects a perfect description of our dad. “Peace, strength hope, blessing and favor in God's presence,” rings true to our daddy. Strength has always been something our dad showed us daily. From him overcoming his own struggles throughout life of owning and almost losing his own business to becoming the chief electrical engineer of the company that did all the electrical work for MARTA to serving on the Henry County Water Authority for 18 years, our dad seemed to be able to not only multitask but also be a strong leader in the community and everything he did. Our dad loved politics and had us kids involved in counting votes, manning polls, and volunteering at the youngest age possible. This is where the peace and hope come in as Dad had great hope for our country that he served and loved with every ounce of his body. Even as he aged and it became harder for him to stand for the pledge, he still made every attempt to do so as he removed his “lid” and saluted. “Blessing and favor in God's presence,” our Daddy loved the Lord and studied the scriptures regularly. He loved sharing about the scriptures to anyone who would listen.  Daddy and Mama were members of the Church of Christ and helped to start a few churches around the area. They studied the Bible and its teachings together and were always willing to advise us in any questions we might have.

Thru the years, we watched as Dad lost his only son at the hands of a drunk driver. The loss of Terry took its toll on Dad and Mama as it would any parent who loses a child. Dad was once asked how he could forgive the man who killed Terry and he responded “Hate for another won’t bring my son back. Forgiveness is what we are told to do. It may not be easy, we aren’t told to forget, but we are told to forgive.” We watched and learned thru the years the many people our parents forgave, including family, as they stayed true to their faith. Sometimes a very hard lesson to learn and forgiveness took some time, but the teaching of that forgiveness always brought peace.

Our dad was a true storyteller. As he aged his stories were embellished with a little more and more each time. Daddy loved to say “Let Me Paint You a Picture” as he began one of his remarkable descriptions of days gone by. Daddy also enjoyed being the center of attention. He loved playing practical jokes and over these last 8 years, we were able to joke and scare each other all the time. It almost became an exercise in who would scare or joke the other first. Since he was having to use a walker, his ability to remain quiet and sneak up on us was harder but he tried none the less.

Not always the easiest person to manage or deal with, our Daddy was a man who devoted his self to caring and loving our Mama. Years ago, when Mama was in a critical car wreck and we were told she wouldn’t make it through the night and would never walk again, Daddy brought her home and cared for her. She eventually was able to walk, and we had another 20 years with her. In the last 3 years of her life, she became bed bound and Daddy once again kept her at home and cared for her until she passed away. Daddy loved and missed her but was honored to care for her. The love of family was something our dad stressed over and over. He loved his kids and loved his grandkids and would do anything he could to make sure we all knew we were loved. Sometimes it was a hard love but it was love that he felt would help us along the way.

Thru community involvement our parents taught us the importance of giving back and helping others. Growing up we watched as both Mama and Daddy volunteered with the EAA 468, The Fairview Civic Club, The Republican Party, and most importantly their church. After they moved to Spalding County, they became involved in the Republican party there and Daddy would drive Mama to the Griffin Spalding Republican Women’s meetings. It was only fitting that Daddy was made an honorary member of the women’s club. He loved how the ladies made over him and made sure he was taken care of, but he also loved sharing with us about what a leader needs to do and not do. His advice was usually spot on….not always taken but spot on none the less.

Dads love of his country was evident as he always wore his WWII veteran’s hat. One of his favorite things to do was to talk about his experiences and share those with anyone who would listen. He had so much fun on our outings to the annual Remax Southern veterans’ breakfast where they always made a fuss over him and made him feel special. He was able to meet so many other veterans thru these visits and share with them about his war times.

The Kid, as we affectionately referred to Daddy, has brought some laughter to many folks. His decision to cover anything and everything he eats in hot sauce has also been a great topic of conversation. Daddy had an appetite and a constant desire to complain about everyone else’s cooking but his own. He would make collards, cabbage, mashed potatoes and lima beans and they would all have a red color to them because his Texas Pete was all over them. His favorite foods were those, but he also loved hot dogs and root beer floats. When looking for photos of Daddy it was a struggle to find any without him eating! Dad’s love to talk was only out shadowed by his love of food as when he was eating was about the only time, he was quiet.

One of the sweetest memories we will forever cherish is when our Sheriff Darrell Dix offered to get Daddy up in the helicopter. Dad was there watching all the students of the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy take turns in their flights. We asked him if he wanted to go up and he felt it would be more trouble than it was worth. That wasn’t good enough for our Sheriff, so he brought Sgt Marc McIntyre over and they helped load Daddy in the helicopter where he and Chief Deputy Tony Thomason were able to chat over the headsets as Tony flew Daddy and I over the skies and over Dad’s house. Experiencing that moment and knowing how much it meant to daddy and those who were helping him was a true blessing.

Our dad was a simple man…some may also call him cheap. He wasn’t happy unless he could negotiate or haggle. He always wanted to wear his overalls when he was about to engage in a financial negotiation because he felt it let people know his position in life. He loved a bolo tie but loved his home made ones from a shoe lace and a macramé bead even better.

The past few years have taught us lessons in strength, courage, admiration, forgiveness, managing anger, laughter, love, and the true meaning of our biblical direction of the fifth commandment found in Exodus 20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days be long upon the land which the Lord God giveth thee.” It has been a hard journey but a journey that has been an honor and privilege to be able to share with the two amazing people we were blessed to be able to call our parents.

In the words of our Daddy as he ended each call to us….Over and Out.
May you find "peace, strength, hope, blessing and favor in God's Presence."

Visitation for Edward Lee Cole will be Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home; a funeral service will be Monday, April 22, 2024 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge, Georgia with Military Honors.

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