Jessie S. Cole

SANFORD-Jessie Steel Cole, a long time resident of Sanford, died on June 19, 2011 at age 101.She was born in 1910 in Halifax England. Her father, Joseph Steel, brought his family to the U.S. in 1912 to take advantage of a job as pattern maker for the Goodall-Sanford textile mills.Jessie had two brothers, Jack Lawrence and Jack Thornton; one half brother, William Steel and two half sisters, Alice Steel Harrison and Annie Steel Ricker.She graduated from Sanford High School with the class of 1927. Shorthand was the method of fast transcription at the time and she won the state Gregg Shorthand medal. She used this skill almost to the day she died for note taking and list making and also in her writing.She worked for the Willard and Hanscom law firm and then for many years in the Town Clerk's Office in Sanford, jobs which she very much enjoyed.WCSH ran a writing contest in the 50's. Jessie entered and won a writing course which began a long and fruitful career as a writer of historical features, children's fiction, reams of poetry, and songs. She won many awards at the writers' conferences at Ocean Park, which she attended for many years. She was among many illustrious writers there and made great leaps in her craft as a result. She was well published during her life.She was a much beloved member for nearly 50 years of the Sanford congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her service will be held at the Kingdom Hall in Sanford in August with burial at Oakdale Cemetery in the family lot.Jessie was predeceased by her first child, Linda, and her husband Charlie Cole, as well as parents and siblings.She is survived by her two children: Lawrence (Larry) Cole & wife Bonnie of Shapleigh and Beverly Hills, FL.; Kathleen (Kitty) Cole Jones & husband Ted Jones of Carrabassett Valley; her grandchildren Karen-Lee Moody Jordan of Cape Elizabeth, Ronald (Sam) Moody of Brunswick, Mark Moody of Cape Elizabeth, Heather Moody of Kingfield, Mellissa Rodrigues and husband Steve of Sanford and Ethan Cole of Lebanon. She also had many great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale.To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com