Riley C. Cole, 90, passed away Friday, January 3, 2020 at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 8 at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity with interment in McNutt Cemetery. Fr. Peter Gray will officiate. Visitation is from 10-11 A.M. Wednesday prior to the service.
Mabel Riley Cole was born January 8, 1929 in Greenwood to Mabel Jones and James Pierce Cole. Her maternal great grandfather, Benjamin Lafayette Jones, was a pioneer settler of Leflore County. She graduated from Greenwood High School, attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, and the University of Mississippi. She received her Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Education Degree from Delta State University and her post-graduate work was at the University of Mississippi. She taught 6th-8th grade math at W.C. Williams and then taught in the EGGSTRK program of the Greenwood Public Schools. Following her retirement from the Greenwood Public Schools, Mrs. Cole remained actively involved in the education of the children of Greenwood. She was a member of the Greenwood Mentoring Group, an after-school tutoring program. She was also an active member of Mission Mississippi. In 2019, Mrs. Cole was presented with a key to the City in recognition of her many years of service to her community and her devotion to and interest in the education of Greenwood’s children. “
Mrs. Cole was a charter member of the Town and Country Garden Club and the MS Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She was a member of the Greenwood Junior Auxiliary, the Greenwood Little Theater, the Museum of the MS Delta and the Early Families Club. Riley was also a member and past president of the Greenwood Garden Club and was a former Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judge. She was a member of the Church of the Nativity where she served on the Altar Guild. She continued to play competitive bridge until the last few months thus obtaining the “Sapphire Status”.
Mrs. Cole was preceded in death by her parents, her sister; Elizabeth Ellen (Betsy) Cole, and her brother; James Pierce (Jimmie) Cole, Jr.
She is survived by her son; Jeffrey Lee Cole, III of Atlanta, GA, Three daughters, Lynn Cole Berman of Greenwood, MS, Elisabeth (Libba) Cole Shrader of Columbia, SC, Clay Cole Laposata (Sam) of Portsmouth, VA, five grandchildren, Taylor Cole Berman, Collin Michael Cole, Elizabeth (Betsy) Cole Shrader Watts (Matt), William Matthew Shrader, Satchel Riley Laposata, a great grandchild; Lyon Raymond Watts, niece; Katherine Ann Cole, nephews, James P. Cole, III, Robert Sewell Cole and several great nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Robert Cole, Jim Cole, Wade Evans, James Howard Evans, Sanford Thomas and Duncan Frasier. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Thomas and Bubba Frasier.
The family wishes to offer a special "Thank You" to Atlean Brewer and Earline McGee for their special attention, love and care given to Riley.
Memorials may be made to the Altar Guild of the Church of the Nativity, 400 Howard St., Greenwood, MS 38930, The Greenwood Mentoring Group, 200 Ave. G, Greenwood, MS 38930, or to the charity of donor’s choice.
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