Obituary for
Melba Ruth Cothran (Smith)
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Crestwood Chapel for Mrs. Melba Collins Cothran, 90, Hokes Bluff, who died Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The Rev. Garth Forster will officiate. Burial will be in Crestwood Cemetery. Crestwood Funeral Home is in charge of services.
Born in Cleveland, Tennessee, she lived most of her life in Gadsden and graduated from Gadsden High School in the Class of 1945. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she worked at the City Water Works until the birth of her first child in 1952. She also worked at the Greater Gadsden Housing Authority for several years. Her true calling, though, and blessing to all who were around her, was as a school secretary for Wagner, Donehoo and Eura Brown elementary schools. She was a Sunday school teacher at Calvary Baptist Church, where she and Harry were members for 36 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church Hokes Bluff and participated in The Homebound and prayer line ministries. She was also active in Hokes Bluff Seniors and Friends.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years, Harry; her son, Craig; her parents, Bill and Katy Collins; and brother, Billy Collins.
She is survived by two daughters, Celeste (Jeff) Cedarholm, Gadsden, and Susan Cothran (Libby), Knoxville, Tennessee; sister, Nancy (Bob) Dewitt, Huntsville; three grandchildren, Katie Cedarholm (Daniel) Lewallen, Huntsville, Jessica Cedarholm (Jeremy) Michaud, Jacksonville, Florida, and William Craig (Samantha) Cothran ll, Winston, Georgia; six precious great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Marian Cothran, Jacksonville, Florida, Helen Cothran, Fort Worth, Texas, and Maxine Duke, Huntsville; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was honored to be reunited in her later years with her family of half siblings in Ohio and became especially close to Roy and Wilburn Smith.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Hokes Bluff or Big Oak Ranch.
Pallbearers will be Tim Franklin, David McCord, Bill Fry, Gene Gossett, Jack Phillips and Gary Bolton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Troy Word and all drivers and staff of Glencoe Senior Nutrition Program.
Special thanks to her beloved caregiver, Cathy Witcher; Barbara Chambers and the entire staff of Home Instead Senior Care; Alacare Hospice, Linda Cheatwood; Dr. Steven Sanders and Dr. Deborah Reiland.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Saturday until the time of service.
