Joy Watkins Cole

Joy Watkins Cole, of Collierville, died February 19, 2012 at Baptist Trinity Hospice House. She was a graduate of South Side High School class of '48 and a graduate of Memphis State College. Joy was a member of East Side Baptist Church and the Ruth Class, a member of the Air Force Wives Club, Raleigh Community Council, 4-H Club parents group, Friends of the Pink Palace and Shelby County Republican Club. Her many achievements included being on the committee to petition the state of Tennessee for the building of Methodist North Hospital. She worked in the 4-H Club of Shelby County parents group for many years; served as officer-in-charge at a number of Raleigh/Bartlett precincts for the Election Commission; served as Chairman of Thrift Shop when her husband was assigned to McGuire AFB, NJ and she was a volunteer at the Maria Montessori School in Harbor Town. Joy is survived by her husband, Maj. General (ret) A. Ben Cole; sons, Benjy of Simpsonville, SC; Bruce, of Memphis; grandchildren, Rebecca of Washington, DC, Andrew of Memphis, Morgan Hudson, Kendall and Delaney of Simpsonville, SC; sister, Bonnie Hadley of Humboldt, TN. Joy was blessed with two of the most wonderful daughters-in-law on earth, Amy Clark Cole of Simpsonville, SC and Maria Schuermann Cole of Memphis. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rufus and Dovie Watkins, sister, Helen Redick and brothers, Floyd and Ronnie Watkins. She leaves exceptional nephews and nieces of the Cole, Watkins and Redick families. Joy will be remembered as a loving, committed, dedicated wife and mother, a role model for her true service to her family, always putting them first, always available with her encouragement and love. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 22, Ben and Joy's 60th Wedding Anniversary, at Memphis Funeral Home And Memorial Gardens, Poplar Avenue. Burial will be in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Ruth Class of East Side Baptist Church, or WINGS at West Clinic. Online condolences may be made at www.memphisfuneralhome.net Memphis Funeral Home And Memorial Gardens 5599 Poplar Avenue 901-725-0100