Susan Illingworth Cole

On August 4, 2023, surrounded by her family and friends, Susan Cole, of Atlanta, GA, peacefully fell into the arms of our Heavenly Father. Susan was preceded in death by: her husband, Judge William H. Cole; her sisters, Mary Charles Painter and Mary Louise Pierce and her daughter, Lee Wiltsie. She is survived by her children, Billy Hartsfield (Libba), Susan Hartsfield (Pete Josephson), Ann Collins (Bob), Jody Cole, and Bill Cole (Kelli). Susan was blessed with eight grandchildren: Neal Collins (Louise), Emily Moore (Josh), Bo Hartsfield (Jenny), Leila Ann Hartsfield, William Cole (Kelsey), Anne Clayton Cole, Jack Cole, and Grant Cole. She is also survived by her nine great-grandchildren: Thomas Moore, Ann Redding Moore, Ellie Moore, Margaret Collins, Kate Collins, William Collins, Ann Floyd Hartsfield, Billy Hartsfield, and Emmy Hartsfield.

Susan was born in Birmingham, AL, to George and Susan Illingworth on July 7, 1928. She attended the University of Alabama, where she was an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Her successful career spanned 20+ years serving as a Certified Financial Planner and Advisor at First Birmingham Securities and The Robinson Humphrey Company. While raising her children all through her working years, she influenced them all with the ultimate values of honesty, integrity, faith, generosity, and loving acceptance of all.

Susan moved to Atlanta, GA in 1996, to pioneer new opportunities in “the big city”. She worked with the US Olympics in 1996, sewing outfits and carrying a flag in the opening ceremonies. In addition to being a superb tennis player, who was always on top of the list to call for a game, she also achieved the rank of a Bridge Life Master player. Her years at the Bridge Club with all of her friends brought her a great deal of happiness. While it was a competitive game that she loved, she took it very seriously! Her spiritual life was always a top focus, and she very much enjoyed her time serving as a Eucharistic Minister for St. Philips. Susan loved spending time with her family, and was often referred to as “The Queen”, as coined by her husband. She lived life to the fullest, and though her physical condition weakened her late in life, her heart, mind and wit were with her until the end (as were her superb texting and I-pad abilities!)

To know Susan was to know you don’t get in the way of her Alabama football or Wimbledon Tennis tournaments! To say she was an avid fan would be a regrettable understatement! She made an impact on everyone she knew, and will be remembered with love, respect, and gratitude. Her middle name should have been “Grace”.

The family will celebrate her life at a private service on August 12, 2023 at the Cathedral of St Philip. In lieu of flowers, Susan cared about The Atlanta Opera, Cathedral of St. Philip, and the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Laurel Ann Wilson of Atlanta, and Althea Vernon, of Live Oak Care, as well as all of the extraordinary teams at both Live Oak Care and LongLeaf Hospice. While Laurel Ann and Althea began as caregivers, they became loved and trusted family members. The family will forever thank you.