A Season of Entry and Exit
Mary Alberta Cole was born in Newport, Charles County, Maryland on March 5th, 1935 to Dudley and Alice Cole. She passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023 at UM Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata, MD.

A Season to Work
During Mary's early work years, she processed Tobacco in Doncaster, Charles County. She later secured employment with Charles County Public School System (CCPSS), where she worked for 47 years as a custodian. She retired in April 2000. A Ceremony of Honor was held, and Mary received an award for longevity and commitment to CCPSS.

A Season of Family, Food and Fun!
Mary, also known as Bertie, enjoyed the simple things in life. She enjoyed cooking, canning, community and dancing. Her favorite meal to prepare was fried chicken with a side dish of cabbage and potatoes cooked in smoked meat. It brought her great pleasure to be in her or her daughter's kitchen canning. She canned beets, peaches and tomatoes just to name a few. She looked forward to going to the Nanjemoy Community Center. Many would say, "She didn't want to miss a day." This is where she would eat lunch and play games like Chicken Dominoes and Bingo. On Saturdays, she would turn on her radio with the dial set to her favorite listening station, 89.3. Listening to the sounds of Rhythm and Blues made her happy. If the station played a song by Fats Domino (Ain't That A Shame), she just might do her dance. Also on Saturdays, her "must do list" was going to yard sales and flea markets. If she was aware of one, she wanted to be there to browse the tables for some of her favorite things. She had amassed an enormous collection of her beloved knick-knacks.

A Season of Remembering
Many will remember Mary Alberta Cole, known as Bertie, especially her only child and daughter Susan Cole; brother-in-law, Charles Hicks; goddaughter, Gladys Hicks; Henry Lewis, her dependable driver to places she needed and wanted to go; good friend Anita Bratcher-Butler; her neighbor, Brenda and other relatives and friends.

Friends may visit with the family Monday, October 30th, 2023 from 10am until time of funeral service at 11am in The Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, 3439 Livingston Road Indian Head, MD 20640. Interment immediately following the funeral service at St. Mary's Church Newport Charlotte Hall, MD.