Mrs. Laurice Tanksley's Obituary
Laurie Harris Cole Tanksley was born on January 31, 1937 in Toomsuba, MS to the union of the late Winnie “Sonny Boy” Harris and Sallie Brewster Harris. Laurie confessed her hope on Christ and united with Little Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Toomsuba, MS at the age of five under the leadership of Reverend Benjamin F. Whitehead.
At the age of fifteen, Laurie married David Cole and to this union five beautiful children were conceived.
Later in her adult life, Laurie married Reverend Walter L. Tanksley and became the First Lady at Mt. Powell MBC in York, Alabama. There were no children added to this union but they helped nurture and raise many grandchildren as well as helping to minister many lost souls by sharing the gospel message of salvation.
Laurie genuinely loved the Lord. She displayed this love with first her family and then who’ve ever she encountered. Until her health failed, she served in many various ministries in the church including but not limited to: Mass Choir, Sunday School, Missionary Society, Living the Baptist Faith and Pastor Aid. Laurice had a beautiful soprano voice in which she blessed Little Hope with numerous ones such as “If I Have my Ticket Lord, Can I Ride?, We Come This Far by Faith and We Will Understand it Better By and By”. She was also a student of the Word in which she had completed the COPP Program through Sunday School Publishing Board and received her Diploma.
Laurice was a great matriarch to her family which was incredibly special to her. She always ate her children, as well as her siblings feel uniquely special with her charismatic charm and smile. She was an outstanding cook and all was welcomed to sit at her table.Her collard and turnip greens will surely be greatly missed. On Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Rush Foundation Hospital, God dispatched an angel to receive Laurice Harris Cole Tanksley back to Himself.
Laurice was preceded in death by her parents, Winnie and Sallie Harris; spouse, Reverend Walter Tanksley; son, Frederick Cole; three sisters: Louise Harris, Annie Mae Liddell and Rosie Rodgers; seven brothers: Winnie Harris, Stanley Harris, Eddie B. Smith, Eugene Smith, Kevin Harris, Jerry Harris; and God brother, Willie C. Yea real.
She leaves to cherish her loving memories: two (2) daughters: Jerlene Lewis of Meridian, MS; Gina (Ronald) Williams of Russell, MS; two (2) sons: David (Juanita) Cole of Lady Smith, VA; Lloyd Cole of Meridian, MS; six (6) sisters, Berniece Carter of Chicago, IL; Emma Smith, Minister Cora Cole, and Ether Jean Davis all of Toomsuba, MS; Juanita Crowell of Lisman, AL; Vera Wilson of Palmdale, CA; fifteen (15) grandchildren, twenty-eight (28) grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, their relatives and friends that loved her dearly.
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