Dorthal Mae Cole, 90, of Nashville passed away on February 5, 2022 after a long battle with Alzheimers, at The Orchard at Stone Creek Senior Living Center in Hahira, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Born April 4, 1931 in Blount County, Alabama, she was the daughter of the late Grover Cleveland and Dora Mae Byrum Roberts.  She worked many jobs throughout her lifetime, including Nashville Textile Corp, Ivy Inn Motel and Restaurant, and Nashville Mills Corp, all of Nashville, and O'Neals Country Buffet of Valdosta.  She was a long time member of Little Block Holiness Church of Ray City and Aneway Baptist Church of Nashville where she welcomed church members and family into her home each Sunday evening for supper.  She was also known in Nashville for her wonderful cooking and her hospitality shown to guests when she was proprietor, along with her daughter, Debbie Cole, of the historic Carter-Clark House.  Her last place of employment was with The Berrien Press in Nashville, assisting in the distribution and delivery of the newspaper each week.

Mema, as she was known to everyone, loved the Lord, and many nights could be found reading her Bible and then doing a crossword puzzle.  She raised her children to love the Lord, work hard, respect elders, tell the truth, and never expect a hand-out!  But she would always help anyone who needed a "hand-up!"  She never wasted money and the family knew that if you didn't eat your food tonight, you would see it tomorrow with cheese on it!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Harold Cole of Nashville; sisters, Girstelle Harper and Era Walker, and brother, Jerold Roberts, all of Hanceville, Alabama, and one daughter, Sonja Ann Cole of Ray City.

She is survived by five children, Dr. Brenda Kowalske of Flowery Branch, Debbie Cole (Bobby Kimble) of Nashville, Don (Vicki) Cole of Nashville, Kay Seidel of Flowery Branch, and Gordon (Leigh) Cole of Thomasville; grandchildren, Dr. Lee (Brooke) McGill of Moultrie, Dr. John Andrew (Nancy) Cole of Valdosta, Carey (Brianna) Paris of Dallas, Texas, Freddy (Shannon) McGill of Atlanta, Eric (Morgan) Seidel of Atlanta, Karla (Lonnie) Roberts of Nashville,  Allison (Pablo) Ripoll of Flowery Branch, Johnathan Cole of Thomasville; great-grandchildren, Daniel, Karlee, Kadyn, Kamryn, Dylan, Samantha, Turner, Zachary, Ashton, E.J.  (Eric James), Lucas, Micaela, Lucia, Gabi, Caleb, Norah, Hazel, Rebekah, Mae, and Levi; three sisters-in-law, Joyce Lewis of Nashville, Nancy Cole of Tifton and Cindy Cole of Nashville; and many other beloved family members.

Though grieving for now, the family is comforted in the knowledge that Mema is with Jesus, her Lord and Savior.  Psalm 16:11 says, " In Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." Mema's pain and suffering has ended and she is now in the very presence of God, where the purest and truest kind of joy possible.  Mema, we love you and we will all be together again one day!

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Bennett officiating.   Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons, Lee, Freddy, John Andrew, Eric, Carey, and Johnathan