In Memoriam to Homer “Mac” McArthur Cole

Originally published July 2020 · p. 30

In Memoriam to Homer “Mac” McArthur Cole “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” – Stonewall Jackson’s last words. On May 11, 2020, Homer “Mac” McArthur Cole, proprietor of Cole’s Coins and Civil War Shop of Chester, Va., passed that great divide between all of us and our ancestors. Mac, a native of Riegelwood, N.C., came from a very poor family of seven children and worked his way far up the line to ultimately become the Director of Health and Safety for Reynolds Metal Company. Educated at both St. Andrews College and UNC-Chapel Hill, Mac was a self-made man of high intelligence, strong will, and unwavering determination who never lost contact with his younger playful self or his humble beginnings. He had a wry sense of humor, a sharp wit, and often concealed his sensitive side from most who met or dealt with him, but he had a heart of purest gold. He truly loved Civil War history and artifacts and was an avid relic hunter in Virginia for many years. His other passion was golf. Mac was a highly rated collegiate wrestler in his younger years. He lost his first wife, Beth, to cancer after 39 years of marriage and remarried (to Lynn) in 2007. He first operated an antique furniture business after his retirement from Reynolds and then launched his dream business in 2009, a combination antique, coin, and Civil War artifact shop. Mac set up at most east coast Civil War shows from Charleston to Gettysburg for close to two decades, but in recent years, due to his health, restricted his travel to coin and military shows in Virginia. I think he cherished dug bullets, bottles, buttons, and coins far more than other things, but he wanted to compete with the upside of the business and branched out into firearms, swords, and uniforms. He had a very small circle of close friends and a much larger circle of people who truly enjoyed his company. He loved the banter and interaction of the relic trade and was a constant (and harmless) flirt to cute waitresses in restaurants. Even while using a cane and barely able to get up and down, he would stop to pick up a penny if he saw one and, when chastised, would just grin and say “Well, I’ve got more now than I had!” He was a true friend to all who really knew him, and I don’t think any show will ever be the same for me again. I will sincerely miss his company and conversation as well as his interesting outlook and perspective on life in general as will his three children (Dan, Brian, and Beth) and many others. His family requests that if anyone wishes to donate to his memory they should contribute to the Melanoma Research Foundation, www.melanoma.org, PO Box 759329, Baltimore, MD 212759329. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com (Chester Chapel, J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home). Farewell, my friend, until we meet again down by that river. – Will Gorges