William Cole_lrg2fld

M ONDAY , J ULY 17, 2023 |1:00 PM A GAPE C OMMUNITY F ELLOWSHIP C HURCH 1420 W. Everman Parkway | Fort Worth, TX 76134 Rev. Dr. Nate Powell, Senior Pastor

His ministry was sharing the Word of God, and if he had your cell phone number, you would receive text messages with Scripture and daily words of encouragement. One of the last messages of encouragement he sent to many of us was on July 3, 2023. “Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but who holds the future.” And although Rev. “Pops” is no longer with us, his future is bright because we know that he is with the Lord in heaven. Until his passing, he was a member of Agape Community Fellowship Church, Fort Worth, Texas, under the leadership of his son, Dr. Nathaniel Powell, Senior Pastor. Rev. Cole will be deeply missed! He leaves to cherish in memory: his wife, Mary Powell-Cole; sisters, Dietra McCroy (Richard) and Mishell Cole; grandmother, Natalie Stevenson; aunt, Earlene Jenkins (deceased); ten children, Jacqueline Cole Carbondale, IL., Misty Valliant-Carbondale, IL., Kelly Coly Carterville, Cynthia Cobb (deceased), Vanessa Quinn-Fort Worth, TX., Bernard Quinn (Calandra)-Sikeston, MO., Lisa Robinson (Mark)-Eagen, MN., Pastor Nathaniel Powell (Lenore)-Fort Worth, TX., Gwendolyn James (Glenroy)-Fort Worth, TX., Yvette Morris (Oscar)-North Richland Hills, TX., Jesse Powell, Jr. (deceased), Fazio Beverly-East Saint Louis, IL.; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his father, Robert Cole, mother, Juanita Howard, and grandmother, Natalie Stevens.

REV. WILLIAM ALPHS COLE was born on February 8, 1950, in Ripley, Mississippi to Robert Cole Jr. and Juanita Ruby Howard. He was raised by his grandmother Natalie Stevenson and aunt Lillian Ellis, who both had a big impact on his life and why he accepted Christ as his Savior Lord. Rev. Cole graduated from Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit Wisconsin in 1967. To have a deeper understanding of the Word of God, he received his formal Bible training at Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and College, Fort Worth, TX. He was married to his lovely bride, Mary Lee Powell-Cole on 29 June 2013 in East Saint Louis, Illinois. They were not only husband and wife, but they were the best of friends. They did everything together, and if you saw one, you saw the other. They lived together happily in Fort Worth, Texas until he went home to be with the Lord on 6 July 2023. He was a family man and loved spending time with his wife, family, and friends. He loved his church family at Agape Community Fellowship and we loved him. The joy of the Lord was his strength (Nehemiah 8:10). He was always smiling and willing to give hugs to everyone. He worked numerous jobs throughout his lifetime and did whatever he could to support his family. He worked at Lockheed Martin in Janitorial Services until he retired in 2019. He never met a stranger he didn’t like and was kind to everyone that crossed his path. He would go up to complete strangers with a big smile and introduce himself as Rev. Pops, and after starting a friendly conversation like he knew them for years, he would always talk about Jesus and tell them he was praying for them. He was a man of God and was full of the joy of life. He kept a smile on his face, and his smile would make you smile. He would talk to everyone, even if he didn’t know you, but he made you feel as though he did. He would go out of his way to greet you, hug you, and make you feel special. There was not a day that went by that he didn’t brag about his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He wanted everyone he knew to know the Lord. He was ordained as a deacon in March 1996. He accepted his call to preach the Gospel in 1998, and he was ordained as a minister of the Gospel in July 2001.

Master of Ceremony………Rev. Dr. Ed Justice, Senior Pastor Christ-Centered Missionary Baptist Church

Prayer…..………………Rev. Jerome Williams, Senior Pastor Faith Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Grand Prairie

Song of Praise...............................................Rev. Samson Aremu

Scripture Reading: Psalm 1:1- 6………….……..Rev. Dr. Gene Craig, President Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and College, Fort Worth

John 14:1- 6……………………………Rev. Victor Adebiyi

Song of Peace…………...................................Sis. Ruth Aremu

The Acknowledgement of All Expressions of Sympathy Please limit to 2 minutes!

Church Resolutions:

Slide Show

The Obituary ..................(Read in Silence).................Soft Music

Song of Hope……………..……...............Sis. Gwen Spencer

The Message of Comfort............................Rev. Dr. Nate Powell Senior Pastor, Agape Community Fellowship Church 2 Corinthians 5:1- 10 “From a Tent to House”

Recessional………………..………………Clergy and Family

Final Review………………………… Golden Gate Directors

The Final Resting Place In the Arms of Jesus

Commemorating

A CKNOWLEDGMENT

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free, I'm following the path God laid for me. I took his hand when I heard his call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I've found that peace at the end of the day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things too I will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My Life's been full, I savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.

Final Arrangements Entrusted to:

John E. Beckwith Jr. - CEO & Owner Dallas, Texas |(214) 941-7332 Fort Worth, Texas |(817) 478-9555 Tallulah, Louisiana | (318) 574-6100

www.goldengatefuneralhome.com “Where Service Begins and Never Ends ”

February 8, 1950 — July 6, 2023