Mother Ethelean Cole

COLE, Mother Ethelean - Age 86, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Kith Haven nursing home. Family hour 10 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2015 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1083 E. Stewart Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Pastor Lewis Randolph Officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Thursday. Mrs. Cole will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday. Mother Ethelean Cole was born November 15, 1928 in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of Bessie Henry (Washington) Holly and Wesley Gipson. Mother Ethelean Cole attended Ann Arbor, MI schools before relocating to Flint, MI with her family. She accepted Christ at an early age and later united with Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in June 1965. She was an active member who sang in Choir No. 2 and faithfully attended services until her illness progressed. She was employed and later retired from AC-Delphi in 1997. Mother Cole enjoyed cooking, singing, family gatherings, traveling, going to the movies and engaging in great conversations with others. Mother Cole never met a stranger and always greeted everyone with her warm and infectious smile. She was a classy lady who loved red and was known to wear her “Sunday Best” everyday of the week. Mother Cole deeply loved the Lord and her family. The Lord called Mother Cole home on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, her mansion was ready. She leaves to cherish her memory: 1 daughter, Marilyn McCoy and 2 sons, Warren (Diane) Thompson all of Flint,MI and Oscar Gipson of Charlotte, NC; 10 granddaughters, Rhondala (Marcellus) Lewis of Jacksonville, FL, Marci Moore, Tanya Jefferson, Angel (Darnell) Jamison, April (Alcus) Smith, Lisa Gipson, Veniece (Eric) Winston, Janell Baker all of Flint, MI and LaToya Thompson & Ebony Thompson both of Auburn Hills, MI; 33 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; 4 nieces, LaVerne Harden of Detroit, MI, Verna Jean Gulledge of Flint, MI, Sharon Holly & Diane Holly both of Ypsilanti, MI; 3 nephews, Herman Holly, Jr. and Burl Holly both of Ypsilanti, MI and Boyice (Donna) Riley of Broken Arrow, OK; 6 first cousins, Virginia Colbert of San Francisco, CA, Patricia Douglas, Shirley Douglas, Alma Thompson all of San Diego, CA, Barbara Floyd of Conyers, GA and Herbie Kay of Plano, TX; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Mother Ethelean Cole was preceded in death by her parents; son, Gerald Thompson; sisters, Rosie Lee Butler and Alberta Riley; brother, Herman Holly, Sr; granddaughter, Tammy (McCoy) Gipson; grandson, Marcus Moore; niece, Juanita Vann; nephew, Raymond Holly, Sr; sister-in-law, Alice Holly; brother-in-law, Daniel Butler; aunts, Lillian (Washington) Fields, Blanche May (Washington) Seatts, Carrie Lee (Washington) Stephens, and Ethelean Olivia (Washington) Douglas; uncles, Booker T. Washington and Solomon Yancy Washington; and longtime companion, Harvey Wheeler. The family would like to express special thanks to the doctors and caregivers at Prestige Pointe Assisted Living Facility, Kith Haven Nursing Home & McLaren Hospice; and Pastor Lewis Randolph and the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Family. Our beloved Ethelean Cole was a wonderful mother, grandmother, aunt and friend who meant more to us than mere words could ever express. We will miss you. You were a great inspiration and you deeply touched all of our lives. We will always love you and cherish our memories of you within our hearts.

Mother Ethelean Cole

November 15, 1928 - March 25, 2015