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Johnetta was a summer baby. She was born August 8, 1945 and along with her other siblings was raised on the east side of Buffalo. She was the Daughter of Johnnie Mae Holmes and John Cole.

As a teen Johnetta attended Lafayette High School the oldest Public High School Buffalo located in Buffalo's Upper West Side at 370 Lafayette Avenue where she was elected Class President.

Johnetta was and her family continues to be members of the Thankful Missionary Baptist Church located at 197 Sumner Place off of Walden Avenue not far from Bailey.

Johnetta entered the military soon after attending Buffalo State College at the age of tender age of 20 years old. On September 24, 1965 she entered basic training in Bainbridge, Maryland for women only 6 months after President Lyndon Johnson used his authority to order the first U.S. ground troops to Vietnam.

Johnetta served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman another word for an enlisted medical specialist and while off shore perform duties as an assistant in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury and assisted health care professionals in providing medical care to sailors and their families.

Johnetta trained 14 weeks at the United States Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois and upon successful completion of her training graduated from class number 6529. Johnetta completed her basic military requirements and military qualifications for Petty Officer.

Johnetta also received the National Defense Service Medal, the oldest military campaign service medal still in circulation in the United States Armed Forces for her service. It is a service medal of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.

Johnettas' last duty station was at the Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas and after 3 years of service in the Navy she received an honorable discharge September 23, 1968.
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Upon returning to her home town of Buffalo New York Johnetta continued in the nursing profession and as a Civilian began working as a registered nurse at Millard Fillmore Hospital.

She later died at the young age of 54 from illness on January 5, 2000.

Johnetta R. Cole is an example of the courage, strength and bravery that has and continues to be demonstrated by our female veterans that have served this great nation.

On March 1, 2012 the Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No. 24 received its charter being established in her honor and on June 6, 2012 the Ladies Auxiliary received its charter. Johnetta R. Cole is interred at the Historic Concordia Cemetery located at 438 Walden Avenue.