Talmadge Cole

Eugene Talmadge Cole, age 85, passed away on August 10, 2025, at North Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia.

Talmadge was born in Carnesville, Georgia, on February 4, 1940, the son of John and Lucy Mae Browning Cole. He married Eloise Laird Cole of Ocoee, Florida. He retired from GTE (General Telephone & Electronics Corporation) in 1995 and operated his own poultry farm for 47 years. He was a member of God's Way Bible Church in Toccoa, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lucy Mae Cole, and his brothers, James "Jim" Ray Cole and William Dwain Cole.

Talmadge is survived by his wife of 65 years, Eloise Laird Cole, of Carnesville; two children: Alan and Gwen Cole of Carnesville, and Anita and Mark Ray of Royston; five grandchildren: Sara Ray of Sherman Oaks, California; Jessica (Casey) Middlebrooks of Carnesville; Laura Ray of Nashville, Tennessee; Jason Ray of Spring Hill, Tennessee; and Kayla Ray of Sherman Oaks, California; and one great-grandchild, Cole Middlebrooks.

Private family services were held on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Franklin Memorial Gardens North in Lavonia, Georgia, with his son, Rev. Alan Cole, presiding.