God took John’s hand on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, and said come with me. John was born on Sept. 25, 1937, to the late Ella Baily Cole and 
, Sr., and grew up in Killen, Ala. John was the ninth child of 10 siblings.
John was a graduate of East End High School of Lauderdale County, Ala. and attended Alabama A&M University. He was a Ford Motor Company retiree with 27 years of employment. He held numerous other jobs with J. C. Penney’s, Dales Restaurant and Turtle Point Country Club. John was a long time member of Eastside Church of Christ.
John had the spirit of entrepreneurship and opened Bunyan’s BBQ in 1972. His slaw, hot sauce, BBQ and slaw dogs were well known throughout the city and known by many artists and was featured in many magazines, such as Home & Garden, Chile Pepper, Garden & Gun and many newspaper articles both local, statewide and national (USA Today). One of his fondest accomplishments was the third place award in the 2005 & 2006 Fiery Food Challenge at the Fort Worth Hot Sauce convention.
John was known as much for his civic involvement as his barbeque. John was involved with many organizations and served in many capacities. He was a Board of Trustees member of the former AmSouth Bank. He served as chairman of Shoals Chamber of Commerce in 2002 and was the sole sponsor of WZZA’s radio station local program, “A Look at Muscle Shoals”, that emphasized and highlighted the area. He was instrumental in the development of the Main Stream Development Corporation that helped minority businesses. John loved to support kids and sponsored many little league baseball organizations over the years. John had many hobbies but mostly loved antiques and antique cars and was a member of the A-Model Ford Club. John loved to travel and he and Rosie took many trips stateside and abroad.
Education was very important to him, and one his greatest joys was establishing the John & Rosie Cole endowment scholarship for minority students for the University of North Alabama funded through a gift of land. He also served as member of the Board of Trustees for the University of North Alabama.
His Christian Walk in life was to help people. He always wanted to help others. John believed “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12)
He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife of 54 years, Rosie Langham Cole; four children, Christopher Cole, MD, Dwight Cole, Florence, Ala., Felicia Jones, Meridianville, Ala., Malcolm (Jackie) Cole, Harvest, Ala.; four grandchildren, Samone Jones, Paige Jones, Jocelynn Cole & Willie Cole Jones (CJ); one sister, Ruth Tyler, Waukegan, Ill.; four brothers, Wilberforce Cole (Georgia) Killen, Alabama, Calvin Cole (Jean), Paul Cole (Annie) & Clarence Cole (Mattie), Sheffield, Alabama; four sister-in-laws; Frances Turner, Town Creek, Alabama, Joyce (Leonard) White, Leighton, Ala., Laverta Cal, Cassandra Langham, Chicago, Ill., Barbara Burt, Madison, Tenn., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society in memory of John Bunyan Cole.
