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Vann-Cole 2014 Family Reunion
Special to The Truth
The descendants of Wesley and Henrietta Vann-Cole held a
family reunion on Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Walbridge Park
in East Toledo.
A committee of 10 family members met monthly for some time
operating under the wisdom found in the Bible, Proverbs
15:22. “Plans go wrong without talking together, but they
will go well when many wise men and women talk about what to
do.”
In the new version of the Bible, the same passage says,
“the best laid plans of mice and men will often go awry.”
The committee understood the Bible verse to mean, regardless
of careful planning, something may still go wrong during the
reunion.
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In spite of Toledo’s water crisis, family members from
Florida, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, and parts of
Ohio gathered an enjoyed the planned reunion activities. A
family neighbor was hired and prepared barbecue ribs and
chicken. Herva King, a local caterer prepared the side
dishes.
Reunion shirts were designed by Art and Air Brush Company,
which included three family-related images. The unique
design displays images of Mary Vann surrounded by her three
children Henrietta, Hugh and Paraless. The second image is
Wesley and Henrietta Vann-Cole. The third image is young
Wesley and several family members next to his new car.
Wesley and Henrietta were one of Toledo’s first
African-American families who settled in the Toledo area in
1929. Wesley then left and participated in a correspondence
course, where he learned how to repair automobiles. Wesley
Cole temporarily left his wife, three young children, and
Henrietta’s mother Mary Vann, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma until he
was able to establish a home for the family.
When that task was completed, the entire family came to
Toledo, together. Wesley had a keen interest in automobiles,
which could be linked to the success of the first
African-American auto-maker, C.R. Patterson and Sons of
Greenfield, Ohio. The Pattersons manufactured automobiles
from 1915 until 1919.
Wesley Cole ran a garage, in downtown Toledo, and soon
earned a contract from a well-known meat packing and
distribution company. The contract required truck repairs,
and was awarded to Wesley Cole because of his good
reputation and excellent work. In later years, Wesley Cole
built a garage in the family’s backyard and continued auto
repairs as a self-employed businessman.
Wesley Cole and his wife, Henrietta, raised four daughters
and three sons. Wesley and Henrietta were soul mates,
married in their late teens, remained loyal to each other
until Wesley’s death in 1969.
Entertainment for the reunion was provided by Strictly
Bizness, C.C. The Clown, and Darryl Banks.
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