Her Story

On December 24th, 1938, In Bristow, OK MayAndrew and Edna Tottress welcomed Lenora J. Tottress to this great world.  Lenora received Christ at an early age, she attended Sand Bottom Church where her father pastored.  Lenora loved traveling with her family on family reunion trips, family was important to her.  Lenora loved old fashioned home church musicals, she was so proud of her brothers, known as the Tottress Brothers #1, and loved her nephews Tottress Brothers #2.

Lenora came from a musical family, Lenora enjoyed coming to Tulsa each month for her siblings dinners that were hosted by her brother Reverend Rozell Tottress (Tabernacle).  Lenora was a shy and quiet spirited person.

She enjoyed being a housewife, taking care of her sixteen children, but she also loved to farm, to plant, and to fish. Lenora was the very best at loving on her grandchildren.

Lenora met Ervin Columbus Cole and they were married on December 26th, 1956, and to this union sixteen children were born.

Lenora and her husband joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sapulpa under Elder Davis for many years. Then she attended New Birth Church under her daughter, Pastor Edna Johnson. She also later attended the House of Opportunity under Pastor David Tottress until the time of her death, she attended Greater Mount Rose with her daughter, Minister Deborah Armstrong and Pastor Earl Tottress.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, MayAndrew and Edna Tottress; her husband, Ervin Cole; two daughters, Margaret Ann Cole and Anita Cole Terry; Eleven brothers, Clyde, Richard, Elvert, Edwin, Earl, Ezra, Aucitto (A.A.), Bill, MayAndrew (MM), George, and Webster; four sisters, Erma, Pearl, Victoria, Laverne; two grandchildren, Dwayne Jackson, II (D.J.) and Orvelester Owens (O.J.); and one great grandson, Dwayne Jackson, III (Lil D.J).

She leaves in God's care: Deborah Armstrong (Tulsa), Ervina Cole (Texas), Ricky Cole (Tulsa), Alvin Cole (Tulsa), Sherman Cole (Texas), Lenora Burton (Bristow), Rosa Michelle Cole (Norman, OK), Vernesa Cole (Tulsa), Reeco Cole (Hinton), Edna Johnson (Tulsa), Roland Cole (Slick),Terrance Cole (Slick),Natalie Cole (Tulsa); one sister, Mablelean Smith (Tulsa); twin brothers John Tottress (Boynton) and Rozell Tottress (Tulsa); and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who loved her dearly.

The Celebratory Service for Ms. Lenora Juanita Cole will commence on Saturday November 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the most holy sanctuary of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Tulsa.

You may visit Ms. Cole on Friday November 17, 2023 between the hours of 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM in the Tulsa Chapel.

Burial will follow the service in the Green Acres Memorial Gardens.