- 11144 Warwick Boulevard • Newport News, VA 23601
- Follow Us
Obituaries
Betty Reedy Cole
Betty Reedy Cole, age 91, passed away with her loving son and minister by her side on July 18, 2023. She was born on July 15, 1932, in the beautiful mountain town of Clintwood, Virginia, to her father, Claude Mitchell Reedy, and her mother, Versie Reedy. She graduated from Dickenson Memorial High School in 1951 as the class valedictorian and received her undergraduate degree from Stetson University in General Science. She then continued her education and received her graduate degree in Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Betty carried her respect for learning throughout her career while working in the Virginia School system for 37 years from Richmond to Newport News, retiring in 1998 from her beloved Denbigh High School. She adored her students when she was teaching, and as her career shifted into guidance counseling, she worked tirelessly to ensure that her students were prepared to achieve the best futures possible. After retiring, she was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma educational sorority and Denbigh United Presbyterian Church, where it was her honor to serve in an active capacity in both organizations. In addition, she continued her love of community by volunteering as a counselor at Christopher Newport University and at the Peninsula Thrive Food Bank. Betty’s belief that she lived to serve guided her life as she continued to volunteer until the age of 88.
She leaves her beloved husband of 62 years William Harvey Cole, son Thomas Reedy Cole, daughter-in-law Catherine McCauley Cole, and grandson William Kevin Cole. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Dr. Therrrill Reedy. Her family will always cherish her memory as she served as a constant source of support and motivation in each of their lives.
Funeral services, officiated by Rev. Deborah Dail, will be held on July 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Denbigh United Presbyterian Church, with a reception following. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at Peninsula Memorial Park; family and close friends will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Denbigh United Presbyterian Church and Peninsula Thrive Food Bank.
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home.
2 Comments
Dear Bill, Tommy and Catherine,
Please accept our deepest condolences on the loss of Betty. She was a dear, sweet lady who I will always remember for her lovely roses and her baking skills- which she so generously shared with us! I can remember many times, us taking to each other while I was hanging out cloths on the line, and she was working on her roses. She would always clip a few for me! We know you will all miss her terribly.~
Tom, my brother, we’ve talked this whole time you’ve been there. Grieve, because it means you love her. Celebrate her life, her joys, her love and all she did for you. Her death is only a stage. Now her spirit is surrounding you and your family.
Love you, brother. May the Lord provide his spirit of comfort to you, and to your family, especially your father.
Mr. Cole, I hope you’re able to celebrate the love Betty had for you and her spirit give you the strength to embrace your family during this time.
Betty was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest joy was her grandson, Will. How blessed was she to spend so much time with him.
And when she went to be with the Lord, she was blessed to hold the hand of her loving son. That’s love.