WILLIAM COCKERHAM
May 22, 1931-March 5, 2006
Mr. William Roy Cockerham Jr., age 74 of Morehead City, N.C., and husband of Nancy Nichols Cockerham, died at Carteret General Hospital on Sunday night March 5, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Mr. Cockerham was born in Carroll County, Virginia, on May 22, 1931, the son of the late William Roy Cockerham Sr. and Della Surratt Cockerham.
He was a graduate of Beulah High School and High Point College, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Cockerham served with the 8th Army Chemical Corps in Korea as a sergeant in charge of physical education.
He began his career as the head of the Physical Education Department at Atlantic High School in Carteret County, where he coached baseball, basketball, and track. He continued to pursue his love of athletics by accepting the Physical Director position for the YMCA in both Elkin and Durham. Mr. Cockerham also served as the manager of the Sea Level Inn in Sea Level, N.C.. After working in management at Stroh Brewery in Winston-Salem , he settled in Morehead City where he served as property manager for Carteret Properties until his retirement.
Mr. Cockerham was an avid sports enthusiast and coach who shared this enthusiasm with his students for his love and dedication to God, his wife, and his family; the many lives he touched through special friendships; his skills in gardening; and his love of fishing in the beautiful waters of Core Sound. His commitment to faith, family and friends will never be forgotten.
Mr. Cockerham is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Nichols Cockerham of the home; his three children, Kim Cockerham of Asheboro and wife Robin, Rhon Cockerham of Kernersville, and daughter Carol Thornton of Goldsboro and husband Wes; his five grandchildren, Ryan Cockerham of Wilmington, Alyson Cockerham of Asheboro, Chase Cockerham of Kernersville, Sydney Thornton of Goldsboro, and Braden Thornton of Goldsboro; two sisters and brothers-in-law, June and Richard Inman Clemmons, and Ms. Dwayne Badgett of Winston-Salem; five brothers and sisters-in law, Donald and Edith Cockerham of Beulah, Roger Dale and Laura Cockerham of Beulah, Paul and Judy Cockerham of King, Delmer and Patsy Cockerham of Rural Hall, and Darrell and Sandy Cockerham of Ararat, Va.; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Cockerham was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Jean Cockerham, and two brothers, Nelson Cockerham, and Dennis Cockerham.
The funeral service celebrating his life will be held Thursday March 9, 2006, at 2 p.m. at the Moody Funeral Chapel in Mount Airy with Rev. Howard Pittman and Rev. Grover Holder officiating. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery in Mount Airy. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral service on Thursday from 12:30 PM until 2 p.m.
Flowers are welcome or memorials can be made to the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild at 1574 Harkers Island Road, Beaufort, N.C., 28516.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on March 8, 2006 2:45 PM