Sept. 10, 1936 – Jan. 28, 2014

CANNONSBURG — Services for Joseph Henry Cole Sr., 77, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethelehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating.

Burial will follow in the Cole Family Cemetery under the direction of Spencer Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mr. Cole was born Sept. 10, 1936, in Cannonsburg, the son of Vernon and Ella Jackson Cole. He was the second of 17 children.

He graduated from Liddell Attendance center in Fayette in 1957.

He married Ruby Lee Sampson on April 19, 1958. They have four children, two sons and two daughters.

Mr. Cole was first and foremost a farmer and loved the outdoors. By trade, he was a carpenter and general contractor. He was co-owner of Chambliss and Cole construction company ad owner of the Cole Construction Company.

He actively and diligently served the citizens of Jefferson County with commitment and integrity. He first as Soil Conservation Surveyor, and later served as Jefferson County District IV Supervisor for 16 years.

He initiated the organization of the District IV Volunteer Fire Department and served as a volunteer fireman and treasurer of the organization for about 20 years.

At an early age, he joined Bethlehem Baptist Church where he remained a faithful member until his death. In January 2002, he was ordained as a deacon and elected assistant treasurer of the church.

Mr. Cole was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Hattie C. Edwards and Gertrude Cole; one brother, Vernon Cole Jr.; and one grandson, Merrick Vessel.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife; two sons, Joseph Cole Jr. and wife, Marie, and Kevin Cole and wife, Bobbie, all of Natchez; two daughters, Dorothy C. Gary and husband, Frank Sr., of Chicago, and Alisa P. Gage and husband, Russell Sr., of Baton Rouge; five grandchildren, Frank Gary Jr., Relisa Gage, Samone Sanders, Russell Gage Jr., Konner Cole, Blake Davis and Morgan Davis; three great-grandchildren, Micheal Reed, Keyonia Torrain and Amariana Reed, all of Vicksburg; five brothers, Edward Cole Sr. and wife, Carolyn, of Jackson, Elvert Cole, of Hattiesburg, Elvis Cole and wife, Shelia, Terry Cole and wife, Raquel, and Biven Cole Sr. and wife, Beatrice, all of Natchez; four sisters, Lillie C. Huff and husband, Samuel, Rosie C. Thomas, and husband, Leon Sr., all of Natchez, Mimie C. Rankin, of Fayette, and Patricia C. Anderson, of Jackson; one aunt, Anna Lee Tenner, of Natchez; and a number of nephews, nieces, and friends.