Florence E. Cole

Florence E. Cole was born on July 14, 1918 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Finnish immigrants. She began to play the piano at the young age of 5, which became her life's passion. She was recognized as a prodigy at a very young age. She performed in New York's famous Carnegie Hall at the age of 12. Her family moved to Staten Island in the 1920's where she spent most of her childhood.

At the age of 22, she acquired a job at the Swiss Bank in Manhattan. She took the ferry daily into the city, which wasn't common for a woman in those days. One Sunday morning while playing piano at church, a fellow attended

and said that he would like to sing a song if Ms. Cole would accompany him. The rest is history; shortly after she married that man, Irvin E. Cole, who was a Southern Baptist minister.

They spent their lives administering the word of the Lord through their music and ministry all over this great nation. In 1954, they adopted a 3-year-old girl from a young member of their church in Sunland, Calif., they named her Patricia. Shortly after, they moved to Lucerne Valley in the high dessert. At the height of her career, she accompanied the late great John Charles Thomas and the Romanies.

In 1969, they moved to Fallbrook. They enjoyed their years so much in our friendly village. She played piano for many churches in the Fallbrook area, as she did throughout her life. She spent her 23 years here in Fallbrook teaching and sharing her gift of piano to many people in the area, young and old, some of whom have gone on to have quite famous music careers. In 1992, they moved to Atherton Baptist homes in Alhambra, Calif., where they continued to share their gift of music and ministry. She was filled with love for the piano, the Lord and life. Her eyes shined as bright as her spirit and that light will be truly missed.

She is survived by her daughter Patricia Cinnamon; son-in-law Larry Cinnamon; grandson Nathan Cinnamon, and granddaughter Jessica Cinnamon. A Celebration of Life will be held on her birthday, July 14, 2015 at 11 a.m., Meriam Chapel, Atherton Baptist Homes, Alhambra, 91801.