Gaynell Cole Obituary

On August 13, 2025, Gaynell June Cole of Peterstown, West Virginia, departed her badly broken earthly body to enter into her heavenly home. Gaynell was born June 23, 1935, to Morris and Elva Jenkins Thompson. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband James, her children Robby and Loressa, and her siblings Cody, Shelby, Dwight, and Nita. She is survived by her son Rick and his wife Melinda, her son-in-law Mark Shirley, her daughter-in-law Sharon Cole, and a most special friend Jennifer Bailey, who provided faithful, loving care during her final year of life. She is also survived by grandchildren Jamie and Shawn Cole, Courtney Rapp, Kristen Cios and Taylor Shirley, Kayla, Cody and Jared Cole. She was also blessed with seven great grandchildren. Gaynell was stricken with lupus more than fifty years ago and served as a test case to develop many of the drugs used to treat the disease today. However, the condition ravaged her body, causing her to live the majority of her life with badly damaged organs while undergoing too many joint replacement surgeries to list. However, she never allowed her illness to get in the way of living a full life and she was a loving wife, mother and a loyal friend. Her biggest fault was her love of Judge Judy, which her family had to learn to tolerate. She was a cat lady and persevered through her final years of extreme illness because she refused to leave her loyal companions Maddy and Charlotte behind. God gave her the gift of music, and she learned to play the piano by ear at a young age. She later undertook formal music lessons and ultimately served as the organist at several churches including the First Baptist Church of Rich Creek Virginia where she was the organist for many years. It is not possible to mention everyone and adequately thank the huge group of neighbors, family and friends who provided encouragement, prayers, food and other support through her illness. A visitation will be held Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Rich Creek, Virginia, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Her funeral will follow at 3:00 pm with Kevin Shirey and John Jenkins officiating. Burial will follow at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Rich Creek, VA. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Gaynell's name may be made to the Faithful Feeds Outreach, First Baptist Church of Rich Creek, PO Box 307, Rich Creek, VA 24147. Online guestbook can be signed or condolences may be sent to the family at www.broyles-­shrewsbury.com. Arrangements by Broyles-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, Peterstown WV.