Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 8, 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C.−Lucile Owen Cole, 99, passed away Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in the Emergency Department of Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center as the result of an extremely brief but very serious illness. She was born September 20, 1926, in Fayetteville, N.C., the only daughter of Percy Michael Owen and Elizabeth Vick Owen.

Mrs. Cole was raised in Fayetteville and educated in the Fayetteville public schools.  She married Herman Preston Cole on October 31, 1948, and they enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage until his death (after a period of declining health) June 18, 2008.

A gracious, loving and talented homemaker−a role which began when, as a young girl, she became caregiver for her invalid parents for the rest of their lifetimes−Mrs. Cole had the gift of a tender touch and a generous and forgiving spirit, and she gave ample measure of each to her family, neighbors and friends at every opportunity. She never sought credit for herself in any endeavor and always put others and their welfare and happiness first.  

As a devoted mother and grandmother, her greatest pleasure in life was to rejoice in the happiness, success and accomplishments of her beloved daughter and only child Constance Elizabeth Cole Knight and her cherished son-in-law George W. Knight of Charlotte; and of her precious grandchildren Preston Brooks Fuller (and wife Casey Horvitz) of Durham, N.C.; and Sarah Fuller Cromer (and husband Chip) of Charlotte, N.C., all of whom survive her, in addition to her great-grandsons Cooper Charles Cromer, Wyatt Louis Cromer and Gray Horvitz Fuller, and her great-granddaughter Noa Horvitz Fuller.

Before moving to Charlotte in 1990, Mrs. Cole had worked during her daughter’s childhood as a civil service employee in an accounting capacity at Fort Bragg and, much later, for a Fayetteville-based realty and construction company from which she retired in 1989.

As a lifelong committed Christian and a faithful longtime member of Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, she joined her late husband in actively supporting the church’s ministries to help those less fortunate. Of particular interest to her were agencies and programs aimed at ending hunger, poverty and illness, especially Loaves & Fishes (now known as NourishUp), Second Harvest Metrolina  Food Bank, Crisis Assistance Ministry and Operation Smile, an organization to assist children suffering from facial disfigurement.

After her husband’s death, she moved in 2016 to an independent living apartment at Aldersgate where she actively engaged in the life of the community, including worship activities and charitable outreach. It pleased her enormously that she was able to live out her life in her beloved apartment where she was happily ensconced for her entire Aldersgate residency.

Mrs. Cole believed resoundingly in the irreplaceable power of prayer in her own life, and she encouraged those around her to commit their needs and concerns to The Lord in prayer and to allow Him to work in their lives.

Throughout her lifetime, Mrs. Cole was known for her talent in gardening, sewing and cooking. She was innately creative and ingenious and kept an immaculate home which was a consistent place of peace and welcome refuge.  She was known for always being beautifully dressed and coifed.

Mrs. Cole was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and by a son Richard Owen Cole who died a few hours after his birth in 1953. She was also predeceased by her brother Daniel Frederick Owen and his wife Lib, brother Clarence Owen and wife Ruth; and nieces Martha Owen Badgett, of Fayetteville, N.C.; and Becky Conoly Jones of Raeford, N.C., as well as her brothers- and sisters-in-law Nancy Lee Cole Conoly and husband James R. “Jimmy” Conoly, and B.B. Cole Jr. and his wife Beatrice Haire Cole and their son Buddy Cole.

Additional survivors beyond her immediate family include her nephews Reid Owen and wife Dana of Mooresville, N.C.; Tim Owen and wife Karen of Peachtree Corners, Ga.;  and Rod Owen of Buford, Ga.; nephew Daniel Frederick Owen Jr. and wife Jacquie of Hope Mills, N.C.; nieces Vicki Owen Butler of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Mary Owen Fowler and husband John of Dahlonega, Ga., and their families; niece Linda Cole Jackson and her sons Chris and Stephen of Columbia, S.C.; nieces Debby Conoly Adams and Cindy Conoly and their families, all of Raeford, N.C.

A celebration of Mrs. Cole’s life will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive in Charlotte, N.C. 28215, officiated by Dr. Kyler Smith, Senior Associate Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, home church of her daughter and son-in-law.

Mrs. Cole requested that, in lieu of flowers, you might consider a donation to Second Harvest Metrolina Food Bank (secondharvestmetrolina.org),  NourishUp (NourishUp.org),  Crisis Assistance Ministry (crisisassistance.org), or Operation Smile (operationsmile.org), all of which were dear to her heart.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.