Judy Diana Mays Cole

Judy Diana Mays Cole age 66, of Bristol, Tennessee, passed away on July 27, 2025, at Select Specialty Hospital in Bristol, TN. Born on October 14, 1958 she was the daughter of the late Reverend Paul Dean Mays and Wilma Gay Casey Mays. Judy lived her childhood and most of her teenage years in Chicago, IL and Wayne, MI before moving to Virginia where she graduated from Grundy High School in 1976. She was also married in 1976 to her husband of 49 years, Darrell, Sr. In 1977, she become a mother welcoming son Darrell Jr. (Buck)to the family then in 1981 son Nicholas Cole followed. She completed her teaching degree at Clinch Valley College and worked for Russell County Public Schools at Cleveland Elementary School and Honaker Elementary School until 2000. She had a love for teaching her students and loved creating new ways to motivate and inspire their learning. She always enjoyed helping the students who were less fortunate. She returned to being a homemaker until her death. She loved her family very much and loved watching her children and grandchildren grow and progress in life. She enjoyed having the family to the house to use the pool and taking the grandchildren to eat at Johnny Brusco’s, shopping, and taking the girls to get their nails done. She loved the 60’s-70’s music, oldies as she called it, with Bob Seger being her all time favorite as he lived not far from where she grew up in Michigan. She liked to watch the Andy Griffith Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Mike & Molly. Seeing her flowers grow and bloom in the landscaping brought her much joy as well. In addition to her parents, Judy is preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law Timothy Dean and Elizabeth Mays; maternal grandfather and step-grandmother Glen and Ollie Casey; Maternal Grandmother Lillian Clara White Casey; paternal grandparents Palmer and Eileen Mays, mother-in-law Alice Pearl Cole, and brother-in-law William “Sonny” Smith; and great-nephew Jensen Mays. Surviving are her husband Darrell Cole, Sr of the home; sons Darrell Cole, Jr and daughter-in-law DJ of Johnson City, TN; Nicholas Cole and daughter-in-law Kimberly of Gray, TN; grandsons Jordan and Simon Cole of Johnson City, TN; granddaughters Madison and Morgan Cole of Bluff City, TN and Briley Graybeal of Gray, TN; sister Paula Mays Keene and brother-in-law Jeff of Pounding Mill, VA, sister-in-law Connie Cole Justice and brother-in-law Robert of Gray, TN; sister-in-law Lois Smith of Manchester, CT; step mother Wanda Mays of Abingdon, VA; Nieces Crystal Lee of Clarkston, MI and Mallorie Street of Rowe, VA; nephews Jeff Smith of Columbia, CT, Robert Smith of Manchester, CT, Wesley Mays of Richlands, VA, and Dylan Mays of Pounding Mill, VA; uncle Doug Mays and aunt Juanita of Lebanon, VA; aunts Alice Casey Hess “Punkin” of Chilhowie, VA; Carolyn McClanahan of Abingdon, VA and Margaret Casey of Lebanon, VA; several cousins, great nieces, and nephews also survive. The family would like to thank Molly Musick for her assistance at the home, Dr. Adam’s, Beth Griffith, and all the wonderful nursing staff at Select Specialty Hospital. Funeral services for Judy Diana Mays Cole will be conducted at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM, at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia, with the Rev. Tim Parton and Rev. Steve Rose officiating. A visitation will be held from 5 PM until the time of service. Pallbearers will be Relatives and Friends. A committal service will be held Thursday, July 31, at 11 AM at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, VA. Interment will follow. Those wishing to go to the cemetery are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:30 to be lined up to go in procession. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands oversees arrangements, and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Judy Diana Mays Cole

October 14, 1958 - July 27, 2025