Jeffery Michael Cole

Coleman Funeral Home of Southaven Jeffery Michael “Jeff” Cole of Hernando, Mississippi was born on October 23, 1974, and passed away on April 5, 2024, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held on Friday, April 12th, 2024, at Desoto Hills Baptist Church. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 12:00, with funeral services at 12:00. Graveside service and interment will be at Desoto Memorial Gardens. Jeff was reared by devoted parents in Franklin, Louisiana. His mother, a gifted pianist, and his father, a talented string player, encouraged and nurtured Jeff’s emerging interest in music. He had an uncommon musical gift and could play piano and guitar, which was self-taught, by ear. Jeff has graciously served more than twelve years as pianist and keyboard player for his beloved Desoto Hills Baptist Church. Holding true to his Louisiana roots, he also enjoyed the rhythm of soulful New Orleans Jazz. As Jeff traveled with his job, he could often be found playing piano during morning hours in hotel lobbies. Although his love for music was a significant part of his life, Jeff’s greatest passion was his family. He was a devoted husband and a Christian father who invested in the lives of his three children. Weekends spent watching his daughter at cheer competitions or his twin sons at baseball tournaments brought great joy and pride. Mississippi State tailgating during football season was a family affair and yielded many fun memories his family and friends will treasure for a lifetime. Jeff was a 1992 graduate of Franklin High School in Lafayette, Louisiana and continued his education at University of Southwestern Louisiana where he met Leanne, his wife of twenty-four years. Following college graduation in 1996, Jeff spent his career in sales. Throughout his employment he held positions with FedEx, Grainger Industrial Supply, and currently was Territory Sales Executive with Beckman Coulter. Jeff never met a stranger, had a compassionate ear, and was eager to serve his clients. As a newborn, Jeff was diagnosed with a complex congenital heart defect called transposition of the great arteries that left his heart functioning backwards. His lifesaving cardiac care began at three weeks of age. He had endured countless surgeries and procedures to help his deficient heart perform the functions of a normal heart. After a stroke and two heart attacks as a young adult, Jeff enlisted the care of an incredible cardiac team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he knew he would eventually need a heart transplant. Without their persistence and intervention on Jeff’s behalf, his life would have been much shorter. Jeff was a determined survivor who never complained about his degenerative condition. Dr. Jonathan Menachem and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Team have been an invaluable resource and support for Jeff and his family during such a difficult season of life. Jeff was preceded in death by his mother Donna Danjean Cole; maternal grandparents, Sidney Jerome Danjean, Jr and Elsie Lee Talcott Danjean; paternal grandparents, Wade Cole and Julia Verret Cole. Jeff is survived by his wife, Leanne Messner Cole; daughter, Emma Cole; sons, Will Cole and Sam Cole all of Hernando, Mississippi; father, Gerald Wayne Cole of Lafayette, Louisiana; sister, Christi Cole Emfinger (Glenn) of Lafayette, Louisiana; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gary and Judy Messner of Corinth, Mississippi; brothers-in-law, Russell Messner of Corinth, Mississippi and Blake Messner (Donna) of Opelousas, Louisiana; Jeff also leaves a great legacy for his six nephews and two nieces. Bro. Grant Stegall, Bro. James Lewis, and Marc Lewis of Desoto Hills Baptist Church and Coleman Funeral Home of Southaven will preside over the services. Pallbearers will include Ward Bloodworth, Greg Drumwright, Keith Gray, Tracy Huffman, Randy Meadows, John Phillips, and Jeff Shands. Memorials in Jeff Cole’s memory may be made to Desoto Hills Baptist Church Student Ministry. Expressions of condolence may be left on Mr. Jeffery Michael Cole’s Tribute Wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.

Jeffery Michael Cole

October 24, 1974 - April 5, 2024

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