Josephine (Dowdy) Cotten

Mrs. Josephine (Dowdy) Cotten, age 85 of Goldston, NC transitioned to eternal rest on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Cambridge Hills Assisted Living of Pittsboro. 

Emma Josephine Dowdy Cotten was born June 1, 1938 to the late Elmus Lee Dowdy, Sr. and Novella Thompson Dowdy in Goldston, NC.

Josephine attended school at Goldston Colored School until her sophomore year in 1954, when the school was destroyed by fire. She completed her sophomore year at St. Luke United Church of Christ in Goldston, NC. The new school, J.S. Waters, was built in 1955 and she graduated in 1956, fourth in her class.

J.S. Waters School is where she met the love of her life, Fred Cotten. She later married him on November 10, 1956, and were married 62 years. To this union, five children were born. She was a very dedicated, protective and faithful wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, sibling, and friend who impacted the lives of many with her kindness, love and sense of humor. Her home was home to many in the community. Josephine was a “straight shooter” and always made it known what was on her mind. Not only did she discipline her children, but all the children in the neighborhood. She was known for baking delicious homemade cakes and homemade biscuits.

She was a stay-at-home mom until she started work in 1971 at Kayser Roth Hosiery in Goldston NC. She worked there 31 years as an order filler and in quality control. She retired in 2002 at the age of 62.

Josephine gave her life to Jesus Christ at an early age. She loved the Lord and was an active member of Roberts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Goldston, NC until her health declined. She served faithfully on the Deaconess Ministry, the RCMBC Mass Choir, and attended Sunday School in the Ollie Turner Class.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Coley Cotten; son, William Fred Cotten; son-in-law, Bennie Lee Thompson; brothers, Billy Dowdy and Elmus Lee Dowdy, Jr.; one sister, Shirley Ann Dowdy; nephew, Steven Dowdy: special aunt Levonia Dowdy Wicker.

Josephine leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Gwendolyn Cotten Thompson, Sanford, NC; Pandora Cotten Paschal (Jerry), Goldston NC; sons, John Fitzgerald Cotten (Peggy), Cameron, NC and Darren Christopher Cotten (Vicky) Hershey PA; seven grandchildren, Brandon Cotten (Val) of Spring City, PA, Brittany Archer of Enola, PA, Jasmine Thompson of Sanford, NC, Tiffany Cotten of Goldsboro, NC, Christie Cotten of Cameron, NC, Faith Paschal of Goldston, NC and Bryce Cotten of Hershey, PA; one bonus grandson, Brian Thompson of Sanford, NC; three great-grandchildren; Blake Archer, Braxton Archer, and Matteo Cotten all of PA; two bonus great-grandchildren, Carter Thompson and Caiden Thompson; two sisters, Hannah Johnson of Bowie, Maryland and Delma Murdock (Fred) of Greensboro, NC; two sisters-in-love; Bertha Dowdy of Suwanee, GA, and Mallie Annette Jones of Chapel Hill, NC; one uncle, Deacon Earl Thompson of Sanford, NC.

She will be missed by nieces and nephews, a host of cousins, church family, friends, and her caregivers.

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Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home-Sanford, NC