Joanne Doris Cole Ramsey

Joanne Doris Cole Ramsey, 85, retired teacher and coach for Columbia Central High School, died Monday, December 19, 2016 at her residence on Greens Mill Road. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Tommy Clark officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Association, 4825 Trousdale Drive, Suite 220, Nashville, TN 37220 or Columbia Central High School Girl's Athletic Fund, 921 Lion Parkway, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Julian David Cole, Sr. and Addie Jane Fly Cole. She was a 1949 graduate of Columbia Central High School and received her Master's degree from Tennessee Tech. Mrs. Ramsey's teaching and coaching career began in the 1950's at Hampshire Unit School, then in 1959 she became Columbia Central's girls' basketball coach. She was a positive influence on thousands of students during her 32 years as a teacher and coach. Before her retirement in 1990, she had coached softball for 12 years and volleyball and basketball for 14 years. In 1996 she carried the torch for the Olympic Games in Atlanta through Franklin. After her retirement, she continued to stay active in community-oriented athletic organizations and returned to coach volleyball at Columbia Central High School from 2001 - 2004. On March 16, 2013, the softball field at Columbia Central High School became the Joanne Cole Ramsey Softball Field and every year one female student-athlete is awarded the Female Athlete Award in her honor. She started the City League for girls' softball. Along with her husband, she was an ambassador for the district and state Senior Olympics, enjoyed volunteering at Maury Regional Hospital, bowling and horseshoes. She was a member of McCains Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Survivors include her husband, whom she married December 15, 1951, Bobby L. Ramsey, Sr. of Columbia; sons, Bobby L. (Iris) Ramsey, Jr. of Madison, Alabama, and Tim (Wendy) Ramsey of Hohenwald; grandchildren, Breanna Ramsey, Cassie Ramsey (Keshia), Austin Dorning, and Cameron Dorning; sisters, Bettye Grigsby, Carolyn (Edward) Jarrett, and Mary Lee (Stan) Coffman; brother, David Cole; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Evelyn Harwood, Claire Malugin, and Janice Uptain. Active pallbearers will be family and friends.