Sadie Blackmon Cole was born October 24, 1938 in Morrilton, Arkansas to Elliott and Althaline Blackmon. She was the fifth of twelve children. Sadie developed her love for Christ very young and was baptized when she was 12-years old. She also loved the piano and began taking lessons when she was eight-years old. She quickly learned to combine her two passions. Eventually, music became one of her many ministries.

When she was a little girl, Sadie attended Hickory Hill Elementary School, but it was Conway County Training School where she developed another passion - basketball. Sadie was a freshman and made the Varsity team. She was a forward - small, but mighty - and took pride in the fact her team qualified and won the State Tournament in Little Rock her freshman year.

In 1953, the Blackmon family moved to Kansas City, Kansas. That's where Sadie attended Sumner High School. To her dismay, Sumner did not have a girls' basketball team. She would later discover she had a knack for dramatics and participated in a number of school plays. She also joined and participated in the school choir, several clubs and organizations.

Sadie graduated from Sumner in 1956. She attended Kansas State College of Pittsburgh, Kansas where she received a Bachelor of Science degree. She later obtained her Master's degree from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Sadie was a longtime member of the Eighth Street Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas where she remained an active member for decades - singing in the choir, directing the youth choir, teaching and playing the piano for Sunday School and serving as a Deaconess. The last five years of her life she attended the Salem Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska where she faithfully attended the Contemporary Bible Class, sang with the Gospel Choir and was a member of the Golden Adventures Ministry.

Professionally, Sadie was an extraordinary educator. Her first job was teaching the first grade at Benjamin Banneker Elementary in 1962. During her decades of service with the Kansas City Public Schools District, she touched the lives of thousands of students at a number of schools. Over the years, she held several titles including Reading Instructor, Instructional Assistant and Interim Assistant Principal. Sadie knew the importance of children having a strong foundation. In 1987, she opened Cole's Christian Childcare. For five years, she poured knowledge, songs and scriptures into preschool aged children. The combination was a recipe for success. Ms. Sadie's kids could read, recite the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and numerous bible verses. All of Ms. Sadie's kids would go on to shine in the classroom and in life. Over the years, Ms. Sadie shared her love of education and was instrumental in some of her students becoming a Judge, a Doctor and world-traveled Photographer. The list of her students' success stories is endless.

While education was important, Faith & Family were paramount to Sadie Cole. As Matriarch of the family, she took her role seriously. She called, wrote letters and left inspirational voice mail messages to family and friends. One of her personal missions was to assure that everyone felt loved and valued. She would end many phone calls with her now famous quote - "I love you and there's nothing you can do about it."

Sadie enjoyed a good laugh, daily exercise, attending her grandchildren's sporting events and eating out at her favorite spots - Cracker Barrel for greens & beans and Gates BBQ. Sadie B. Cole was always what you needed her to be - a Sister, Friend, Counselor, Encourager, Mother or Mother figure.

Sadie Blackmon Cole transitioned to eternal rest on Monday, June 12, 2023. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Althaline and Elliott; three brothers, Rev. Quinton Blackmon (Hazel), Rev. Harold Blackmon (Irma) and Phinas Blackmon; one daughter, Beth Cole Young (Audraft); and one granddaughter, Suzanne Cole.

There are many who will cherish her memory: two children, Clarence S. Cole Jr. (Kim) and Serese McDade (Todd); eight grandchildren, LaTosha, Traci, Trevor, Quinton, Sarah (Fadhal), Caleb, Tyler and Jordan; along with her great-grandchildren. She is survived by siblings: Prentice Blackmon, Johnnieque Love, Earl Blackmon, Mertha Daniels, Janice Blackmon and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Thoughtful care and service provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc.

Sadie B. Cole Link
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