James William Cotten

James William Cotton, Age 79 passed on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

James William Cotten, fondly known as Jimmy or Jim was born on Sunday, September 25, 1938 to James Nelson and Hazel Mae Fearrington Cotten in Orange County, NC. He is the oldest of his siblings.

James started his education at the Sunny Side School which was located on the grounds of Terrell’s Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Upon completion of the highest level at Sunny Side School, he attended the Orange County Training School. Upon completion there, he then attended and graduated from Lincoln High School in the Class of 1957. While attending high school he was a bus driver and a band member, playing the tuba. During his practices at home, his sisters would stuff the tuba with articles of clothing as it was loud and he was sometimes off key.

He attended and was baptized at Terrell’s Creek Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. During his latter years he attended New Ephesus Church, 175 Brookwood St., East Orange, NJ where the Presiding Minister is John Shore.

During his youth, he worked on many community farms picking cotton and tobacco. He helped his Grandpa Will (Willis Major Fearrington) in the cane fields, helped with the shoeing of horses and other farm duties.

After graduating from high school and working a few jobs in Chapel Hill, he decided that he would move to New Jersey. He resided in East Orange and Newark until his death.

James was an Army Veteran serving during the post Korean war. He received an honorable discharge. James worked at and retired from Prudential Insurance. His various work experience included driving long distance trucks, buses and working at several social lounges throughout Newark, NJ. He became an entrepreneur of Cotten Bus Service. This was his dream come true!

James was married to Doris Brown and to this union three children were born, Cynthia, Scott and Troy.

He is preceded in by his parents and grandsons, Taylor Lindsay Cotten and Troy J. Cotten.

He is survived by: his children, Cynthia Cotten Newkirk (Charlie); Todd Scott Cotten, Troy Lindsay (Georgette) Cotten and Tawanna Bridgeforth; his grandchildren, LaVar Cotten, Charlie Newkirk, IV, Le’Chae Newkirk, Dior Norman, Todd Lindsay Cotten, Tailyn Cotten, Thaison Newkirk, Sheronda Hunter, Tiffany Hunter and Scottie Bridge-forth; his great-grandchildren, Lauren Cotten, Kahlicee Newkirk, Bless Newkirk, Zhavia Newkirk, Kyden Newkirk, Leilani Newkirk, Shaquan Cook, Nijuan Moody, Amare Moore, Serena Moore, Aniyah Moore and Jordan Bridgeforth; his siblings: Julia Cotten Leigh, Ruby Cotten Bynum, Phyllis Cotten Fearrington and Nelson Junior Cotton; his nieces and nephews, Ja’Cinta Bynum Frazier (James), Pamela Bynum Edwards, Monisia Bynum Farrington (Ryan), Lamont Fearrington, Andre’ Cotton and Angela Cotton; his great nieces and nephews, Janae Frazier, Tre’ Frazier, Asia Edwards, Krysterpher Farrington, Chandler Ellerbe and McKenzie Williams; his cousin/brother, William “Skinny” Farrington; two special families, the Rays: Carol, Christina and Jennifer; the Boles: Dolores, Satanya and Mrs. Swinson; a god-daughter, Bridget Weston and a god-son, William Cook; his in-laws in NY and NJ; several cousins and  

Arrangements by:  Knotts Funeral Home, Chapel Hill, NC