James Joseph Cole II

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 8, 2013

April 30, 1940 – Aug. 7, 2013

NATCHEZ — A private family Mass for James Joseph Cole II, 73, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at his residence, will be at Holy Family Catholic Church with the Rev. James Fallon officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at St. Mary Basilica.

Mr. Cole was born April 30, 1940, in Natchez, the son of William C. Cole and Edrie Scott Cole.

Mr. Cole was the president of Natchez First Federal Savings and Loan, executive vice president of Britton and Koontz First National Bank and served on a number of boards for his church, school, city and state.

You would need to be around him only a few minutes to recognize his positive contributions to the Natchez community. One of his most pleasurable times in his career was being able to help young couples finance their first home.

James loved sharing good times with his children, grandchildren and friends on Sunday with his famous “Poppy’s Sunday lunch.” His leisure time was spent in his flower gardens. He loved to see spring flowers bloom to mature flowers. He often used his gardens for prayer and meditation.

Mr. Cole was a devoted Catholic and attended St. Mary Basilica and Holy Family Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one great-grandson, Fisher Thompson.

Survivors include his wife, Ruthie Cole; six children, Janet Dillard and husband, Daniel, of Natchez, Cathy Havens and husband, Joey, Kris Cole and wife, Racheal, all of Ridgeland, Jay Cole and wife, Wendy, Ryan Cole and wife, Jessica, all of Jackson, and Edie Corrigan and husband, Eustis, of Memphis, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren, Meggie Thompson and husband, Greg, Selah Havard, Pate Dillard, Abby Dillard, Haley Porter, Rigby Porter, Patrick Cole, Parker Cole, Eustis Corrigan, Leighton Corrigan, Spencer Corrigan, Hayes Corrigan, Bailey Cole, Riley Cole, Clare Cole, Isabella Cole and Harrison Cole; two step-grandchildren, Brandon and Kelsey Havens; three great-grandchildren, John Clifton Thompson, Davis and Dabs Havens; one sister, Kate O. Cole of Natchez; one brother, William C. Cole of Paducah, Ky.; two brothers-in-law, Robert Scudamore and Mike Mallory, both of Natchez; five nieces and nephews, Kelly Cole Hackett, Scottie Cole Barlow, William Cole III, Brady and Patrick Mallory; and one very special friend to the family, Jeannie Sanguinetti.

Pallbearers will be Jay Cole, Kris Cole, Ryan Cole, Daniel Dillard, Joey Havens, Eustis Corrigan and Greg Thompson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Freddie Ferguson, Charles Byrnes, Tommy O’Beirne, Patrick Mulvihill and Earl Wentworth.

Memorials may be made to Cathedral School Capitol Campaign or to Holy Family Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.