Tragic Loss: Great-Nephew of Jazz Legend Nat King Cole Fatally Stabbed in Atlanta

In a heartbreaking incident this week, Tracy Cole, a 31-year-old man from Georgia, lost his life in a fatal stabbing on the streets of Atlanta early Thursday morning. The victim has been identified as the great-nephew of the renowned jazz singer and pianist, Nat King Cole.

The tragic incident occurred at approximately 2 a.m. near the intersection of Centennial Olympic Park NE and Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard NW. Tracy Cole suffered multiple stab wounds and was rushed to a hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead.

As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with this devastating crime, and investigators are yet to uncover a motive behind the senseless act.

Tracy Cole was described by his friends as someone who brought joy to everyone he met. Octavia Oliver, a close friend, fondly remembered him as always cheerful and quick with his lighthearted jokes. “Everybody loved him,” she said.

Henry Stokes, another friend, added that Tracy was a beacon of positivity and a pleasure to be around. “He was one of those guys who was always around with positive energy, and it was always so good to be around Tracy.”

Tracy Cole had a deep passion for cigars and worked at the Cigar City Club in the Atlanta area. He was also a member of the Cascade United Methodist Church, where Senior Pastor Kevin Murriel spoke highly of him. “Tracy had that personality that just really transcended culture, it transcended race, it transcended class,” said Pastor Murriel. “Tracy made a friend of everyone. He was family. He was more than a young man in the community. He was that child who walked the floors and aisles of the church. He just brought an abundance of joy everywhere he went.”

In addition to his connection with the legendary Nat King Cole, Tracy Cole was a second cousin of the late singer Natalie Cole. He had also traveled the world with his grandfather, Freddy Cole, a jazz musician who passed away in 2020.

This tragic loss serves as a painful reminder of the need for unity and the prevention of violence in our communities. Tracy Cole had a promising future ahead of him, and his untimely death leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him.

We must come together to address this issue and ensure that our young men and women are not taken from us too soon. Tracy’s potential was boundless, and his passing is a source of deep sorrow for all who knew him.