John Jacob “Jake” Cole of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on Monday, December 9, 2019. He was born October 4, 1935 in Millport in Lamar County, Alabama. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather (known affectionately to his grandchildren as “Pop), brother, and friend.
Jake is survived by his sons, Randy (Sherry) Cole of North Shelby County, Alabama and Ronnie (Kathy) Cole of Dora, Alabama; one daughter, Ronda (Freddy) Thomas of Helena, Alabama; grandsons, John Cole, Andy Cole, Michael Cole, Cole Thomas, and Jameson Thomas; three granddaughters, Stacy (Kyle) Stephenson, Emma Kate Thomas, and Brittany (Kacie) Reeves; two great-grandchildren, Landon Rector and Layken Requena; and a host of other family members and friends.
Jake was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Nellie Price Cole; his parents, Jesse Hollis Cole and Eunice Tomlin Cole; two sons, John Jacob Cole, Jr., and Roger Cole; daughter-in-law, Debra Cole; sisters, Ratha Fowler, Christine McGee, and Jean Luftman; and brothers, Glen Cole and Thad Cole.
Jake was a member of the Riverchase Church of Christ in Birmingham.
He was a 1954 graduate of Millport High School. In 1979, he was inducted into the Millport Hall of Fame. He later served over two decades on the Millport HOF Board of Directors. He was also active in the Lamar County Genealogical Society. He also served in the Air National Guard.
Jake was an avid golfer. He was a member of Woodward Golf & Country Club for over 40 years.
He worked for over a decade as a machinist at ACIPCO. He left ACIPCO to pursue a long, very successful career in metallurgical cutting tool sales, first with General Electric’s Carboloy Division and later with Seco Tool.
Visitation will be Friday, December 13, 2019 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama from 10 a.m. until the 12 noon funeral service at Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. Interment will be on Friday, December 13, 2019 at the Christian Chapel Church of Christ Cemetery in Millport. Pallbearers will be John Cole, Andy Cole, Michael Cole, Cole Thomas, Paul Moore, and Billy Barton.
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