James Lee "J.L." Cole

James Lee (J.L.) Cole, 79, of Abilene, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 7th at home surrounded by his family.

 Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. on Friday, December 13th at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

 Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, December 14th at First Baptist Church, Abilene, TX. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd.

 J.L. Cole was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana to Hazel and Frank Cole on February 7th, 1945. He graduated from Midland High School in 1963, BA in Psychology, Baylor University, 1967, Southern Seminary, 1970, MS in Social Work, University of Louisville, 1970. He married Diane Baker on June 10th, 1967. He worked at Methodist Children’s Home in Waco from 1970-1974, Hendrick Home for Children from 1974-1979, Director of Children’s Protective Services from 1979-2001, Associate Professor and eventual Department Chair of Sociology and Social Work at Hardin-Simmons University from 1976 to 2011 where he and his wife, Diane, established the “J.L. and Diane Cole Endowed Social Work Scholarship.” He also served part time as a child therapist at the First Baptist Church Counseling Ministry from 1983 to 2001.

 J.L. was deeply involved in, and devoted to service and ministry at First Baptist, Abilene where he served on countless committees, mission initiatives, ministry projects, as Sunday School teacher, and as Chairman of Deacons, Deacon Emeritus, and the FBC Foundations Board.

 J.L. was preceded in death by his father, Frank Cole, his mother, Hazel Thompson Cole, and his brother, Travis Cole.

 J.L. is survived by his wife of 57 years, Diane Baker Cole; his three sons, Jim and wife Becky, John and wife Marci, Andrew and wife Janelle; brothers Ed and wife Gayle, Elton, Don and wife Belinda, and sister Mary; seven Cole grandchildren, Carson, Madison, Currian, Jacob, Allison, Joshua, and Jackson.

 Memorials may be given in honor of J.L. Cole to the Ministries of First Baptist Church, Abilene, TX

 The family of J.L. Cole wishes to extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the physicians and healthcare providers of Hendrick Hospice, to the ALS specialists at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX, to the people of First Baptist Church, and to the dozens of amazing friends who have loved and supported the Cole family in their time of need.