Robert Grey Cole Sr.

Robert Grey Cole passed away on January 23, 2023. He was born on July 15, 1945 in Washington, DC, son to the late Fred Carrington Cole and Lois Ferguson Cole. Grey graduated from The University of the South, Sewannee, Tennessee. He earned his Master of Arts in History and Master of Library Science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a Librarian at Southern Illinois University and the University of Missouri before becoming Head Librarian at the University of Mississippi at Oxford (‘Ole Miss’). While at Ole Miss he secured a generous donation from B.B. King to the Blues Archive at the J.D. Williams Library. The Blues Archive is one of the world’s largest public collections of blues recordings, publications and memorabilia.

Grey has lived in Raleigh, NC for the past 37 years. He was an avid horseman and a member of the Triangle Hunt Club. He loved gardening and enjoyed his peaceful patio he shared with the hummingbirds. He was an extraordinary father and grandfather who encouraged adventure and shared unconditional love. Grey is survived by the love of his life Sadie Parker; his two children, Robert Grey (Jacqueline) Cole Jr. and Ann Swindell Cole Beal; his grandchildren, Mae, Sarah, George, Billy and Lacy Grey; and his siblings, Caroline Cole Cornwell and Taylor Morris Cole. In addition to his parents, Grey was preceded in death by his brother Fred Carrington Cole, Jr.

A celebration of life will be held at Quail Hollow Club, 800 Orleans Place Raleigh 27609, on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wake County SPCA.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

—Abraham Lincoln

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownwynneeastmillbrook.com for the Cole family.