Dr. Edyth Bryant Cole

DR. EDYTH B. COLE was born Friday, March 30, 1923, in Inkster, Michigan. She was the fifth of seven children born to the union of Charles Edward Bryant and Alice Maude (Jackson) Bryant. Edyth attend Lincoln Consolidated Schools. After graduation, she continued her education at Eastern Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. While she was finishing her studies at Eastern, she met and eventually married William R. Cole (deceased). From this union, three children were born, Charles R., Constance A., and Leslie B. Cole. Years later, they were divorced but continued to work together to maintain a strong, stable foundation for their children. Edyth became employed as an elementary teacher at Perry Elementary School (Ypsilanti, Michigan). She continued her education while teaching. She earned a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan. She followed that with a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, also from the University of Michigan. Post-graduate studies included certificates in Teaching the Disadvantaged from the University of Toledo (Ohio) and studies in Gerontology with specialist certificate in Aging from the University of Michigan. Edyth’s employment moved from the Ypsilanti School District to the Wayne County (Detroit) School District. She was employed in the following positions: County Educational Consultant; District Administrative Assistant for Curriculum; and County Director of Federally Funded School Desegregation Advisory Project. In 1972, Edyth accepted a professorship at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. During her tenure at ECSU, she served as Chairman of the Department of Education, Chairman of Teacher Education, and Chairman of the Division of Education. She also served as Coordinator of the Historically Black Colleges Program for the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C. for two summers. In 1989, Edyth retired and relocated in Washington, D.C. where she and her daughter had purchased a condominium in 1980. Being a faithful member of the AME church from her youth, Edyth united with The Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. She served as a member of the Anchor Ministry which was responsible for the welcoming and nurturing of new members. She also served as a class leader. Edyth had many affiliations with business and social groups but her greatest pleasure came from being a lifetime member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. At the time of her passing, she was the sole surviving charter member of the Delta Psi Omega Graduate Chapter chartered in 1948 (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Other organizations that Edyth cherished were the L’Esprit Club which provided scholarships for African America female students in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area and the Links. Edyth enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles, bowling, shopping, and world travel. Her greatest love was church and family. She was very supportive of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and other family members. She was effectually known as “Puddin” by siblings and Aunt Puddin by her nieces and nephew. On Monday, June 3, 2019, at 11:30 pm, God called Edyth from labor to rest. She was 96 years old. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Edward Bryant; mother, Alice Jackson Bryant; sisters, Lorabelle Johnson, Henrietta Dudley, Mauretta Davenport, Rose Geraldine Bryant, and June “Bugs” Reynolds; brothers, George E. Bryant, Charles Allen Bryant, Sr.; grandson, Russell “Rusty” B. Cole; great nephew, Bradley R. Bunton. She leaves to celebrate her life her devoted and loving children, Charles (Fran) R. Cole, Sr. of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Constance A. Cole of Gahanna, Ohio, and Leslie B. Cole, Sr. of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren, Charles (Josie) R. Cole Jr. of Portland, Oregon, Timothy Cole of Jackson, Michigan, Jeffery (Leslie) Cole of Worthington, Ohio, Jason (Heather) Scharmer of Buford, Georgia, Leslie B. Cole Jr. of Lake Worth, Florida, and Wesley P. Cole of Canal Winchester, Ohio; along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren; nephew, Charles A. Bryant Jr. of Dayton, Ohio; nieces, Susan (Jim) M. Bunton of Ypsilanti, Michigan and Lisa M. Bryant of Lathrup Village, Michigan; special friends, Marcia (Rod) O’Brien-Pope of Washington, D.C., Butch (Mary) O’Brien of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Brenda (TJ) Nicholson of Clifton, Virginia, Mozell Smith of Washington, D.C., Kathy Brown of Washington, D.C., and Lula Patton of Ann Arbor, Michigan; god-nieces, Kim (Ricky) Williams of Fort Worth, Texas, Jackie Briggs of Tucson, Arizona, Barbara Jean (Mahlon) Cook of Detroit, Michigan, and Lisa Brooks of Ann Arbor, Michigan.