Mary M. Cotten

Mary M. Cotten, 98, of Coatesville, was called home to be with the Lord on Christmas morning, December 25, 2019.  She was born in Edgecombe County, Tarboro, North Carolina.  Mary was the oldest of ten siblings from the union of the late Elder John Henry Mooring and Olivia Jones Mooring.

Mary was educated in the Oak City Public School.  She left school in the eighth grade to stay home to help her ill mother raise her brother and sisters.  

After leaving home, she worked for Dr. Milton Quigley’s at his medical clinic and she also cared for his children.  

Mary relocated to Coatesville, PA and began working at Embreeville State Hospital while raising her three daughters, Vanessa, Carolyn and Marilyn also known as “Baby Doll”. Over the years, she also worked at the Salvation Army in West Chester, PA. and after 10 years of service she retired from the YMCA as a childcare aide. 

She was a woman of grace and showed her love through her many talents. She was an amazing cook. Her southern recipes delighted her family and friends as they enjoyed her Mac n Cheese, Rum Cake and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Mary enjoyed listening to music, crocheting and making ceramics.  Mary loved flowers, she could take just a small pinch of a seedling and make the plant thrive into a beautiful flowering masterpiece.  Most of all she enjoyed raising her three girls and helping to take care of her grandchildren.

Mary leaves two daughters, Vanessa Jones and her husband Eric, Carolyn Brown and her husband Carlee all of Coatesville, PA; sister, Mattie Mooring of Tarboro, NC; brothers, Jesse Mooring, Issac Mooring both of Tarboro, NC; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren;; a loving goddaughter, Tiffany Thomas of High Point, NC and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Marilyn M. Alston; sisters, Lizzie A. Mooring, Susie M. Parker, Ethel M. Cotten; brothers, John Henry Mooring, Jr., Cornelius Mooring, and Crumel Mooring.

Services will be held at 11 AM on Friday, January 3, 2020, at New Life In Christ Fellowship, 1 South Fifth Avenue in Coatesville. A viewing will be held beginning at 9 AM until the time of the service.

Interment will be in the Princeville Community Cemetery, Princeville, NC. on Saturday, January 4, 2020.

Condolences may be shared at the guestbook link on this memorial page.  Flowers may be sent to the church on the day of the service. The theme flower colors are lavender and purple.

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