Thelma L. Cole

Thelma L. Cole ESCONDIDO -- Thelma L. Cole was born in Idabel, Oklahoma on 6-17-1926 to Earnest and Alice Johnson. She was the seventh of ten children. She moved to San Diego in 1955. Thelma met and married King Pride Johnson. From this marriage, she became a mother to Milton Johnson and a grandmother to Jocelyn Johnson Harris. Although their union ended in divorce, she and King Pride remained life long friends. In 1976, Thelma married the love of her life, Troy Cole. They were married for 29 years until his passing in 2005. Thelma accepted Christ at an early age and served him faithfully until Tuesday morning, 8-19-2008 at 4:45 am, when he called her home to eternity. She was a member of Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church for more than 30 years. Thelma graduated from Slater Rosenwald High School. She obtained an Associates degree from Langston University in Okla., a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from San Diego State University and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from United States International University. Thelma taught school in the San Diego Unified School District for over 10 years. She owned and operated Tri Care Child Development Center for over 20 years and also taught at Palomar College. Thelma's love for children, lead her to become a foster parent to over 100 children throughout several decades. Thelma leaves to cherish her memory, her son Milton Johnson, Dennis Moore Jr., granddaughter, Jocelyn (Clark) Harris; great- granddaughter, Juliana Faith Harris; daughters, Denise Island, Marcella Howard, Tieast Moore and Cindy Ellis, Brenda Holland; her sister, Earlene Jordan; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Alice and her father, Earnest Johnson; her husband, Troy Cole; brothers, John H. Goody, James; and sister, Eda B. There will be a viewing between 4 - 8 p.m., Sunday, August 24 at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, August 25, at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com