Nat “King” Cole and Maria Cole dance at their wedding reception 65 years ago today, March 28, 1948, which happened to be Easter Sunday. The Coles were married at Harlem’s famous Abyssinian Baptist Church by Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the legendary Harlem congressman. According to Michael Henry Adams, author of the beautiful coffee table book, “Harlem Lost and Found,” Ms. Cole wore a $700 ice-blue satin dress designed by none other than VBG fashion designer legend, Zelda Wynn Valdes! Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images.
Nat “King” Cole, at home in 1957 with his wife, Maria, contemplates a snack. Photo by: Frank Carroll/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images.
Maria Hawkins Ellington tries on one of her gifts at a party in Harlem celebrating her marriage to Nat “King” Cole in March 1948. The Coles were married at the famous Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time Life Pictures.
I was sorry to hear of the loss of Maria Cole today. In this photo, she is attending the 35th annual Academy Awards with her husband who was, of course, the legendary Nat “King” Cole. Mrs. Cole was also the mother of Natalie, Timolin and Casey Cole along with two other children (Carol and Kelly, a son) who preceded her in death. Born Maria Hawkins in Boston in 1922, she was an accomplished jazz singer who performed with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. She was also the niece of a Vintage Black Glamour icon - educator Charlotte Hawkins Brown, founder of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina. Mrs. Hawkins Brown was one of the invaluable suffragists who worked for black women to have the same equal rights black men and white women were fighting for in the early 20th century. She was raised Maria Cole and her sisters (her brother’s children) when their mother died in childbirth. After Nat “King” Cole died in 1965, Mrs. Cole founded the Cole Cancer Foundation. She was 89 years old. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images
Nat “King” Cole honeymooning with wife Maria in Mexico in 1948. This photo appeared in the April 1965 issue of Ebony which paid tribute to the legend after his untimely death from lung cancer at age 45.
Duke Ellington and his singers Joya Sherrill, Kay Davis and Maria Ellington (no relation - later Mrs. Nat King Cole, mother of Natalie and niece of Charlotte Hawkins Brown).
Educator Charlotte Hawkins Brown on her wedding day in 1912. Founder of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina, Ms. Brown was also one of the invaluable suffragists who worked for black women to have the same equal rights black men and white women were fighting for in the early 20th century.
She was also the great aunt of singer Natalie Cole. In fact, she raised Natalie’s mother Maria and her sisters (her brother’s children) when their mother died in childbirth. Ms. Brown died in 1961.
Educator Charlotte Hawkins Brown on her wedding day in 1912. Founder of the historic Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina, Ms. Brown was also one of the invaluable suffragists who worked for black women to have the same equal rights black men and white women were fighting for in the early 20th century.
She was also the great aunt of singer Natalie Cole. In fact, she raised Natalie’s mother Maria and her sisters (her brother’s children) when their mother died in childbirth. Ms. Brown died in 1961.
