Lorraine Cole

Miss Lorraine Cole, 78, of Toledo passed away peacefully Sunday evening, September 27, 2009 at Heartland of Waterville, Ohio. Her caretakers were her grandsons, Stratman and Damon and granddaughter Dorry. Lorraine was born September 15, 1931 to the union of Sarah Harris Grant and Sterling Grant in Tyronza, Arkansas. She was one of twelve children born to this union and a favorite of her father, who was delighted in her skills as a cook. Migrating from the south to Toledo after having completed high school, she graduated from Practical Nursing School in Toledo. In 1956 Lorraine began working in the surgery unit at St. Vincent Hospital. She later received additional training at The Cleveland Clinic, which prepared her to assist the open heart surgeons as a surgical nurse. She retired from St. Vincent Hospital after 37 years of service. Lorraine was a long time member of New Covenant Baptist Church. Miss Cole enjoyed decorating the flowers on the altar and assisted in the landscaping of the church grounds. In addition to her work at the church, she had an indelible love for flowers and utilized her talent as a decorator in various capacities throughout the city. Lorraine is survived by her grandchildren, Stratman (Michelle) Cooke, III, Damon (Latoyia) Cooke, Sr., Dorry L. Jefferies of Toledo, Chalastin and Toren Cooke both of Maryland; 4 sisters, Mattie Long, Pearl Watson, Permel Shoecraft and Ethel Hawthorne all of Toledo; 1 brother, Willie T. (Carolyn) Grant of Birmingham, Alabama; 7 great grandchildren Monet Cooke, Stratman Cooke IV, Damon A. Cooke, Jr., Zia A Cooke, Toren A. Cooke, Jared T. Crumpler II and Joseph D. Cooke. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, her son Stratman Cooke II; 3 brothers, Leroy Grant, Allen Grant and Willie Brock; 3 sisters, Hazel Bembry, Rolene Wilson and Aline Alexander. Lorraine also had many nieces and nephews and special friends, Mary Gregory, Essie Mae Smith and James Carlisle and the entire New Covenant Baptist Church Family. The family would like to thank the staff at Heartland of Waterville for their loving care. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Dale-Riggs Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio. Visitation will be Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 4 pm – 7 pm at the funeral home. Wake services will be Friday, October 2, 2009 at 11 am with funeral services following at 12:00 noon at New Covenant Baptist Church, Pastor Benjamin L. Green officiating. Interment will follow at the Historic Woodlawn Cemetery. www.dalefh.com