Nell Cole Graves
Nell Cole Graves (1908 – February 17, 1997) was an American potter, one of the first female potters in the Seagrove, North Carolina pottery tradition.
Cole was a prolific potter having been part of J. B. Cole Pottery where production was key to fuel tourist business. While J. B. Cole was still open, many came to be trained as production potters. She was the daughter of the owner J.B. Cole and a sister to Waymon Cole. She married Philmore Graves and owned Graves Candle Shop as well as J.B. Cole Pottery (now closed), which was located south of Seagrove in Moore County near the Randolph & Montgomery County lines.
She died in the late 1990s and was buried in the old Fairgrove Church Cemetery behind Graves Candle Shop. Holly Hill Pottery closed soon after her death, the building was auctioned.
Nell Cole Graves died from a stroke at the age of 88.