DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997               TAG: 9703010216

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   31 lines

DOROTHY A. COLE

Dorothy Arevar Cole, 83, peacefully departed Feb. 27, 1997, at the Sentara Nursing Center.

Born Sept. 28, 1913, in Sumter, S.C., to the late Elliott and Lessie Colclough, she resided in Norfolk for more than 50 years and was the widow of Curtis Cole Sr. Mama Cole, as she was affectionately known by many, received her early education in the Sumter School System. She also received a B.A. degree in education from Morris College, Sumter, and taught in South Carolina for several years before moving to Hampton Roads. Dot retired from Norfolk General Hospital after 15 years of service.

At an early age she joined the First Baptist Church Missionary Church in Sumter. In Norfolk, she was a longtime member of Garrett Community Full-Gospel Baptist Church, where she served as the first president of the nursing unit.

Survivors include four sons, Curtis Cole Jr., Melvin R. Cole of Norfolk, Barry H. Cole Sr. of Hampton and Maj. Earl B. Payton of Fort Lee, Va.; a daughter, Melvetta R. Cole of Henrico County; three sisters, Sarah DeChamp and Maude Wilson of Sumter, S.C., and Gertrude Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren, Kyle, Shannon, Courtney, Darren, Everett, Barry Jr., Morgan, Earl III, Jonathan and Laura; cousins and a host of nieces and nephews as well as loving friends.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Garrett Community Full-Gospel Baptist Church, 2843 Victoria Ave., Chesterfield Heights section of Norfolk. Graves Funeral Home is handling arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu