The Cole family always knew music was a powerful force. It can entertain, unite and inspire. Recently, they learned just how much it can do something else, heal.
For the close-knit five member clan, everything changed in July, 2005. At this time, Felicia Cole, married to Michael, and mother to Michael II, Avery and Nadia, was attending the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in pursuit of her school administrative degree, along with a better life for her family. She loaded into a van with four other eager summer program attendees on their way to dinner. However, the quintet was abruptly stopped while in North Adams Massachusetts when they were hit head-on by a drunken driver. One woman in the multiply-tumbled van died, three others were hurt, and passenger seat victim Felicia Cole was left in a coma. The once vibrant, South Junior High School Science Teacher and former Evangelist, who was actively involved in her community and children’s schools, was a shell of her former self.
"I barely recognized her at all when I saw her in the hospital," recalled Michael Cole. "If the hospital staff didn’t tell me the person lying on that hospital bed was my wife, I would have never known."
After a four month stay in a Massachusetts hospital, Felicia Cole was transferred to Helen Hayes Hospital. Soon, she came home to the nearby Wingate Nursing Home. Having their mom close by, the three children, who never lost hope, decided they wanted to do something to assist her healing process. They naturally turned to a place that had always bonded them with her, their music. Ever since the three siblings could recall, their mother had taught them the beauty of music. Each a talented singer, they now wanted to return the favor, delivering healing messages in the form of gospel Christian melodies. So, everyday for three months the Cole children, led by their father, would diligently venture to Wingate. Here they would sing and pray. It wasn’t long before their mother began to respond, slowly uttering Spanish phrases and eventually English.
"I could feel them there, even when I was in a coma" reminisced a teary-eyed Felicia Cole. "I wanted to be with my children, and I could hear their singing, and it made me stronger."
Felicia wasn’t the only one at Wingate empowered by the Cole children’s singing. Many others in the nursing home were affected.
"I remember one lady there kept trying to press her channel changer when we were singing," said Avery. "She thought we were so good we had to be coming from the radio."
Touched by the nursing homes’ love for the music, the children hosted a mini concert for all of the Wingate patients and staff. And of course, their mom attended, continuing to regain strength, speech and mobility with each melodic gift.
As the children became more active at Wingate, their father was more profoundly sensing their special talents. In October, 2007, he decided to widen their exposure by contacting one of his wife’s friends, Temple Hill Academy Music Teacher, Consuelo Hill. Shocked at the beautiful, soulful sounds created by the Cole trio, Hill immediately offered to provide them with free voice lessons.
What started as raw music gifts has evolved into honed, professional sounds, whose breadth has been felt all over.
Dubbing themselves Voices of Glory (V.O.G.) the Cole children, now 16, 12 and nine, have sung at City of Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine’s inauguration, National Black Caucus competitions, a NAACP dinner, numerous dedications and most recently at St. Mary’s Church for a ceremony saluting the memory of Carlie Siegelbaum, a nine year old Newburgh resident, whose life was tragically cut short last month in a car accident.
The group even made a trip in February to The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, a place their mom, with the help of her husband, eventually did earn that elusive school administrative degree. Here, V.O.G. provided a concert, where people who claimed to have never cried before were brought to tears.
Each performance since those early days singing in Wingate has reminded the Cole family just how lucky they are. Not only were they aided by family and friends throughout their mom’s entire ordeal, but were blessed with music.
As Thanksgiving approaches and Felicia Cole continues to show progress, the family can’t help but reflect. "I have just been so blessed," said Michael Cole. "These kids have been absolutely wonderful throughout this whole thing, helping their mom get dressed, clean the house, and anything else that needs to be done."
That blessing sentiment is duplicated by his daughter. "It’s been a blessing since my mom came back to us," said a smiling Nadia Cole. "I never once cried when I found out about her accident, because something deep down told me everything was going to be alright."
