Mrs. Jeraline Gatwood Cole, 87, was born June 22, 1934 in Wadesboro, North Carolina to Daniel (Danny) Hugh Gatewood and Charlie Bell (Lea) Gatewood. On February 2, 2022, she departed this life in Lilesville, North Carolina, with her loving daughters at her side.

Jeraline, fondly know as Jerry, Jerald, Mrs. Cole, and Granma, was a woman of great FAITH. She loved God and loved people no matter their walk of life. She didn’t just talk about this Christ walk; she walked it as well! Jeraline was one class act! She enjoyed MUSIC, education, and treating everyone like SOMEBODY! She never met a stranger and loved to see young people succeed. As a young widow, she instilled in her children to be the best they could be. As a product, they all graduated and received bachelor’s degrees in Information Systems, Business Administration, and Nursing from various universities.

She was united in holy matrimony in 1963 to Joseph D. Bunting, Sr., until his death in 1963. Together they had one son, Joseph D. Bunting, Jr. (Chip). In 1965, she remarried and was joined in holy matrimony to Miner (Minus) Cole for 14 years. Together they had two daughters, Lisa Jean and Claretta. She and Minus raised their family in Badin, NC, where she was a faithful member of McDonald AME Zion Church. She served as Choir Director for the Youth, Senior, and Gospel Choirs and the church’s Director of the National Christian Youth Council for the Concord District. But quite often, when service was over at McDonald, she would take her children around the corner to First Baptist Church for their services. And when that service was over, she would take them across the street to Saint Luke Holiness Church just in time to enjoy the sermon there.

In 1971, the family moved back to Jeraline’s hometown of Lilesville. Minus didn’t want her driving from Badin to Wadesboro every day for work. So, they moved to a patch of land Jeraline purchased with money from her first teaching job at Leak Street School in Rockingham, NC. Here they eventually built their home and raised their children. Jeraline was a member of Parsons Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she worked faithfully in many areas. She was choir director, musician, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Women’s Missionary Home Society member, and church mother.

Jeraline attended Henry Grove School in Lilesville, North Carolina, and graduated Valedictorian of her class. She later attended North Carolina Central University, where she received Bachelor of Science degrees in Library Science and Health Education and a Masters in Fine Arts degree. After working in the Richmond and Anson County school systems as a school librarian, teacher, and media coordinator, she later received a Masters in Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Jeraline was President of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel for Anson County, a charter member of Anson County’s Smart Start Program (serving as Board Chair from 1996-2002), Board Member of the State Employees Credit Union, President of Women in Action, President of the Zion Baptist Association, and a member of The Book Club. She was one of the first African American women to become principal in Anson County, where she was principal of Peachland-Polkton Elementary School. Because of her love for children, her family was never surprised when they found a stranger eating at their dinner table or accompanying Jeraline to the beauty salon for a free hairdo as if they were a part of the family. Jeraline taught piano lessons for many years and worked in the Anson County School System for 30 years. She decided to retire after learning that she would be a grandmother. How excited she was to become a grandmother! Her grandchildren were the apples of her eye! When they walked into the room, her eyes would light up, even during her illness.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Danny and Charlie Bell Gatewood, and husband, Miner Cole. We, her children, will love her and cherish her memories forever: daughters, Lisa (Tarrence) Graves of the home, Claretta (Richard) Little of Wadesboro, NC, son, Joseph D. Bunting, Jr. of Columbus, Ohio, sister, Willie Bennett of Fayetteville, NC and brother, Henry (Margaret) Gatewood of Baltimore, Maryland. Three loving grandchildren: Brannon Little of Greensboro, NC, Makayla Little of Wadesboro, NC and Camryn Bunting-Dorr of Westerville, Ohio. Four great-grandchildren, Brayden, Malayah, Nola, and Ashton. God-Daughter, Kristen (Robert) Mims of Morven, NC and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

We offer special thanks to her primary caregiver, Mae Richardson, and to Mel Little, Mary Jean Sawyer, Tabitha Kersey, Daisy Allen, Diane Carelock and Community Home Care and Hospice.

We give God the glory for blessing us with such a prominent and remarkable WOMAN OF GOD.

The Services to Celebrate and Honor the Life and Contributions of Mrs. Cole will be on Sunday, February 6, 2022, 2:00pm, Parsons Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Lilesville, North Carolina. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The Cole Family will greet family and friends on Sunday, February 6, 2022 from 1:30-2:00pm at Parsons Grove Missionary Baptist Church.