In 1919, James H. Cole, Sr. launched an undertaking business on the lower east side of Detroit on St. Aubin, in an area commonly known as the “Black Bottom.”
Founded on the family’s successful investments in real estate and an extensive livery stable, the move into undertaking and funeral services proved to be a natural fit for James H. Cole Sr. and his future generations.
Building on the family’s strong foundation of compassion and service to the community, the business grew and moved several times over the next several decades – first to 446 East Warren in the early 1930s – before settling into its final location on West Grand Boulevard in 1962. In June of 1982, due to business growth, the West Grand office was moved next door to its current flagship site at 2624 West Grand Boulevard.
The company has addressed the need for funeral services in Detroit’s northwest neighborhoods with the addition of a second chapel at Puritan and Schaefer.
By the early 1950s, James H. Cole, was joined by his son – James H. Cole, Jr. – who became a licensed mortician and under the direction of James Jr., the business thrived and continued to set the standard for funeral service in the Detroit community. Karla M. Cole Green, the youngest daughter of James H. Cole, Jr., began working at the funeral home in 1975, graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and became a licensed mortician in 1979.
Karla continued to steer the direction of the business and strengthen its place as a Detroit landmark in funeral service. Karla’s son, Antonio Green, received his undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and continued the family’s historic legacy earning his license of Mortuary Science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2007. He initiated the fourth generation to continue the Cole family’s history of service to the Detroit community. Joining him in his dedication to the family’s legacy, Karla’s youngest son, Brice Green, began working for the company in 2007 as the headstone counselor. By launching this venture it initiated a new service to the family’s business. After finishing his Pre-Mortuary Science studies at Eastern Michigan University, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, James H. Cole, Jr., by graduating from Wayne State University’s School of Mortuary Science in 2013.
