Obituary

Mr. Ferdinand Cole, 80 of Palatka, Florida answered his heavenly call on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Ferdinand (Ferd) Columbus Cole was born on October 11, 1943, in Washington, North Carolina to the late Cecil Cole and Mary Elizabeth Oneal Cole.

Ferd attended Washington City Schools and graduated from P. S. Jones High School in 1961. He excelled in both football and baseball in High School. He later moved to Palatka, Florida where he courted and later married his wife, Betty Session. To this union, Ferd and Betty welcomed two children: Fannie and Fred Jr.

Ferd studied Auto Mechanics and loved working on cars. He also enjoyed his job as a Fur Coat Distributor traveling from state to state.

After moving to Boston, Massachusetts, Ferd later met and married his second wife Loretta Wilson. Ferd and Loretta later moved to Philadelphia where Loretta died years later. After Loretta's death, Ferd developed a close relationship with Cheryl Eaddy and together they raised Tyrone Eaddy and Stacy Smith. Ferd adored both and recognized them as his children.

Ferd was preceded in death by seven brothers, Cecil Jr., Edward, David, Claude, William, Hayes, and Emmett; three sisters, Neppie, (Stillborn) and Fannie; his son, Fred Jr.

To cherish Ferd's memory, he leaves two daughters, Jessie Michelle (Corey) Hopkins, Greenville, NC, Fannie (Felton) Cole Kemp, Palatka; Ferd also recognized Tyrone Eaddy and Stacy Smith as his children and Gregory Session as his stepson; one brother, Herman Cole, Boston, Massachusetts, Mary Cole-Jones, Atlanta, Georgia (Thomas), Valencia Cole, Bronx, New York.

Ferd leaves 11 grandchildren, multiple great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that loved him.