Harrison Carter Cole's Obituary
With a quiet demeanor, determined nature and quick smile, Harrison Carter Cole managed an unassuming drive to excel and has achieved much in his young life. He has had a profound and unique effect on a community that is now deeply moved by his loss.
Harrison Carter Cole, of Jeffersonton, passed away on March 25, 2017. He was 18.
Despite his modest and soft-spoken approach, friends and family say his drive and passion had impact, and his good nature never faltered.
“I was his older brother, and he was always pushing me to do better,” said Lee Cole, Carter’s only sibling. “But we never fought. He was the best brother and friend anyone could ever have. He was a friend to all and everyone who met him loved him.”
Carter was a freshman at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Va. He planned on attending medical school upon graduation. He was a competitive swimmer at H-SC, and as a first-year swimmer on the Tiger’s Swim Team, Carter was named to Third-Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference and earned mention on the Tigers Top Performances listing for record-breaking performances. He was recognized for his part in the second-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay, the 200-yard medley relay and his first-place finishes in the 100-yard Individual Medley and 100-yard butterfly.
Carter was a 2016 Culpeper County High School advanced honors graduate. Among his many academic achievements, he was inducted into the National Honor Society his junior year at CCHS. He was awarded the Presidential Scholarship and the Eagle Scout Scholarship at Hampden-Sydney College. And as a captain on the Culpeper County Blue Devil’s Swim team, Carter set an exceptionally high bar for the team breaking several school records and earning Virginia High School League 3A All-State honors his junior and senior years for performances in relay and individual swim events. Carter was also a competitive swimmer with the Nation’s Capital Swim Club – West (Vint Hill).
“He was a special young man with much talent in and out of the pool and a pure joy to coach through the years. Sadly, he was taken from this earth much too young,” said Mark Faherty, NCAP-West swim coach on a recent Facebook post.
Carter actively served in Boy Scout Troop 550. He designed, created and built an outdoor classroom at St. Luke’s Lutheran School (now Epiphany Catholic School) and earned his Eagle Scout Award on June 24, 2014.
“Carter had a love for all things outdoors, fishing, camping, SCUBA diving, canoeing and swimming. He was a Brother to every Scout with a big heart and a kind spirit,” said Clay Hunton, BSA Troop 550 Assistant Scout Master. “We are not sure why this happened but what we do know is Carter is now with God. Maybe He needed another Eagle to fly over and keep watch over us.”
Carter is survived by his parents, William Leon Cole IV “Bill” and Carol Ann Cole of Jeffersonton; and his brother, William Leon Cole V “Lee” also of Jeffersonton. He also leaves his maternal grandparents, Jane and Marvin F. Carter Jr. of Germantown, Tennessee; his uncle, Marvin F. Carter III (Tripp) of Memphis; his paternal grandfather, William Leon Cole III of Sebastopol, California; paternal aunt, Katherine F. Photopulos and husband, Todd of Germantown, Tennessee; and paternal uncle, James V. Cole of Memphis.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 850 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Culpeper Baptist Church, 318 S. West St., Culpeper, VA with Pastor Angela Jennings and Pastor Kate Costa officiating.
Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Donations to honor Carter’s love of the outdoors and animals will be forwarded to Boy Scout Troop 550 and the Humane Society in Culpeper. Checks may be made to the Harrison Carter Cole Memorial Fund and mailed to 16368 Covey Circle, Amissville, VA 20106. Donations via PayPal family and friends option should be sent to [email protected]. Donations to the Humane Society of Culpeper can be mailed to 315 S. West Street Culpeper, VA 22701.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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