William Hunter Cole

William Hunter Cole, 94, died peacefully at his home at Aldersgate Retirement Community on December 23, 2023. Bill was an authentic witness to his Christian faith and left his part of the world a better place. He treasured his family and many longtime friends, worked hard all his life, and enjoyed whatever work he was doing.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Agnes Kenerly Cole, and his son, Kevin Cole. He is survived by a brother, Robert Cole of Montgomery, Alabama; son, Randy Cole (Cindy) of Simsbury, Connecticut; daughter-in-law, Ann Cole of Charlotte; daughter, Janice Cole Stewart (Grier) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Billy grew up in Meridian, Mississippi. He started working at age 10 with a newspaper route and a “wagon route” selling sodas to workers at construction sites. During high school and junior college, he worked 40 hours a week with his dad as a messenger for the GM&O Railroad. This work ignited two lifetime passions – riding trains and talking to new people. Bill thrived in situations where he could connect with others – learning their stories, bonding over common interests, and sharing his anecdotes.

Bill met his wife, Agnes in the summer of 1951 after he graduated from Mississippi State College with a B.S. from the School of Business and Industry. They both worked a Methodist Youth Caravan before starting at Emory University in the fall. Agnes earned a Master of Christian Education degree and Bill a Master of Divinity. They married in 1954 and Bill began a career with the United Methodist Church. He served in Georgia for fourteen years - as the North Georgia Conference Director of Youth Work, which include directing the summer program at Camp Glisson, 1954 – 1961 and as the Minister of Christian Education at Decatur First Methodist, 1961-1968. He moved his family of five to North Carolina in 1968 to become the Minister of Education at Charlotte First Methodist for four years. Bill ended his official paid work with the Methodist church in 1974 after serving in a special three-part position as Charlotte District Director of Christian Education as well as part-time pastor at Belmont Park and the new St. Stephen.

Bill started his second career as a Social Studies teacher in 1975. He taught for two years at Providence Day and for fourteen years with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, retiring in 1994 after finally working with Agnes at Garinger High School. He was a dedicated and creative teacher who truly cared for his students.

Bill valued life-long learning and remained passionate about Christian Education as a lay person. Bill was proud to be an active member of St. Stephen UMC for over twenty years and to be a leader in the Discovery Sunday School class. He volunteered frequently. Most recently, as Co-Coordinator of Adult Education, Bill expanded and organized the Church Resource Center and helped to create a special summer learning series. He was an enthusiastic promoter and recruiter for the church, as well as outgoing greeter who considered remembering and calling people by name to be an important kindness.

Bill was very busy in retirement after becoming active in the NC Department of Transportation Rail Division in 1991. He served as a train host for 26 years, assisting passengers on 700 roundtrips, covering 350,000 miles. He coordinated numerous train trips to the capital for school groups and helped improve the landscaping at the Charlotte station. In addition, he made 14 cross country train trips with friends and family, bringing his train travel total to over 500,000 miles. He was recognized in March 2022 by the NC Department of Transportation Rail Division for outstanding service as a leader in the NC Train Host Association and for his tireless efforts to promote and enhance passenger train service in NC. Bill summed it up by saying, “Everybody knows that I am the train guy.”

The joy of Bill’s life was his family. He cherished family gatherings and calls and enjoyed bragging about the accomplishments of his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. He particularly loved spending time with them in his gazebo or along the paths in his backyard on Water Oak Road, where he and Agnes lived for 45 years.

After Agnes’ death in 2017, Bill moved to the Aldersgate Continuing Care Retirement Community, where he lived independently until this past summer, and in assisted living until his passing.

The family wishes to extend our sincerest appreciation to the staff of Aldersgate, and particularly Parker Terrace, for their loving care and support of Bill as his health declined.

A service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 20th at St. Stephen UMC, 6800 Sardis Road, Charlotte. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the St. Stephen UMC Endowment Fund, the Aldersgate Christmas Fund, or to the NC Transportation Museum.