A makeshift memorial has been set up on County Road 466A across from Burke’s Tree Farm in memory of 29-year-old Cole Powell.
He died Dec. 7 of injuries suffered at the site in a motorcycle accident. He was airlifted from there on the night of the accident and later died at Ocala Regional Medical Center.
Cole was a welder for Tucker’s Machine and Steel Service in Leesburg.
His co-workers welded a cross for the site.
Services were held Saturday at Lady Lake Church of God.
Nancy Peck of Naples said her son Ryan was friends with Cole back when they were young. Both got into trouble and found themselves in separate prisons.
But both found God and it changed their lives, she said.
Cole had been released Sept. 12 from prison, found a job and was rebuilding his life.
But at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 6 he collided with another vehicle in the accident. He died the next day.
Fruitland Park Police Department is investigating the accident. On Tuesday, the department said the investigation is ongoing and that a final report is not ready to be released.
Fruitland Park Police Department was notified of the accident at 10:15 p.m. that day. Â A representative of the department said it is being treated as a single-vehicle accident and that no charges are pending.
Cole was involved with Lampstand and Xtreme Soul-utions Ministries.
“He found God and it changed everything,” said Peck.
At Saturday’s service, she read a statement from her son, penned in his prison cell.
In it, he proclaimed his love for the Lord. And his friend.
“He was my little brother,” said Cole’s sister Christen Powell of St. Petersburg. She was visiting the memorial on County Road 466A on Sunday afternoon.
Her 8-year-old son, Justice, was nicknamed “partner” by Uncle Cole.
At the memorial, he wore a shirt bearing his beloved uncle’s image.
On the back of the shirt the letters of his uncle’s name were spelled out.
C for Christ. O for Offers. L for Life. E for Eternity.
