Sharon Sue Cole, 79, of Judsonia, passed away Sept. 15. She was the wife of Rodger Cole, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in McRae.
Born June 6, 1947, in Little Rock, Sharon was raised in Lonoke. Sharon married Rodger Feb. 24, 1967, and faithfully served alongside him throughout their 59 years of marriage and ministry. Other Arkansas pastorates included Center Grove, Cord; Oak Grove, North Little Rock; and New Home, Quitman. They also served at Antioch Baptist Church in Carthage, Texas, for 30 years before retiring from that pastorate in 2020.
Sharon was active in the Women’s Missionary Auxiliary (WMA), serving in various local and state leadership positions. She served as Texas WMA state president from 1997-1999 and as editor of the Texas WMA page for 18 years.
After the couple returned to Arkansas, she continued her involvement in WMA ministry. In August 2022, Sharon helped organize the WMA at Shiloh Baptist Church in McRae, where she was elected their first president.
She enjoyed flowers, sewing, crafts, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Rodger Cole of Judsonia; two sons, Bryan (Lori) Cole of Conway and John Cole of Judsonia; two daughters, Christy (Jason) Whatley of Carthage, Texas, and Sarah (Brandon) Jones of Whitehouse, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sept. 17 at Searcy McEuen Funeral Home in Searcy, with Aaron Howard officiating, and Sept. 19 at Antioch Baptist Church in Carthage, Texas, with Thomas Monroe officiating. Interment followed at Antioch Cemetery under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home (jimerson-lipsey.com).
Memorial donations may be made to the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, 460 Shiloh Road, McRae, Ark. 72102.
