GENEVA B. HERRING COGDELL
Jan. 22, 1917-Dec. 8, 2010
Mother Geneva B. Herring Cogdell made the transition into eternal rest peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, at her home in Goldsboro, N.C.
She was one of five daughters of the late Joseph H. and Fannie J. Herring.
She was born Jan. 22, 1917, in Mount Olive, N.C. She was educated in the Wayne County Public Schools, and received her medical assistant certification from Wayne Community College.
Mother Geneva was united in holy matrimony in 1938 to the late Nathaniel Cogdell, where they shared a blessed union for more than 67 years. God blessed them with seven children whom she loved and held close to her heart, instilling in them high morals and strong Christian values.
As a devoted wife, mother and homemaker, she had a zest for life.
At a young age, Mother Geneva gave her life to Christ at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Olive, N.C., and later joined Pleasant Union Church Disciples of Christ in Grantham, N.C., where she was consecrated in 1979 as a mother of the church, and served in many capacities, including church secretary for more than 29 years. When her health began to fail, she joined St. Mark Church of Christ Disciples of Christ, Goldsboro, N.C., to continue her spiritual growth.
She and her late husband were entrepreneurial partners for many years, and were later employed by Cherry Hospital, where she retired as a medical technician after 17 years of service.
She enjoyed her fellowship with the North Carolina Retirees Association, Bible study and providing guidance to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
This life abundantly lived is celebrated by her children, D. Parthenia Cogdell of Willingboro, N.J., Eutean (Aubrey) Redding of Goldsboro, N.C., Gloria K. Eldridge of Dallas, Ga., Nathan G. Cogdell of Silver Spring, Md., Wanda (David) Martin of Greensboro, N.C., and Dwight D. Cogdell of Goldsboro, N.C.; son-in-law: Charles H. Smith of Turnersville, N.J.; 13 grandchildren, Sandra (Anthony) Baker, Samuel (Rosalind) Sanders, Denise Redding Humphrey, Aubrey Redding Jr., Shirlene (Herman ) Smalls, Michelle (Robert) Brown, Jermaine Dent, Durand Martin, Demar Martin, Jasmine Cogdell, Cheryl Lewis, Angela Yarborough and Melvin Burton; nine great-grandchildren, Samuel IV, Herman IV, Nicholas, Koran, Tyrell, Isaiah, Marisa, Anthony and Mekai; a sister, Evangeline Benton of Maryland; son-in-law, Charles H. Smith of Turnersville, N.J.; seven sisters-in-law; and a host of other relatives and friends.
There will be a viewing held today from 4 to 7 p.m. with the family present to receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Services to celebrate the prolific life and legacy of Mother Cogdell will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at St. Mark Church of Christ. After which, Mother Cogdell's delicate temple, along with her adored family, will be escorted to Wayne Memorial Park for entombment rites. For it is in this earthly consign that her earthen vessel must remain until that great coronation in the middle of the air.
Services of compassion and distinguished class.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 10, 2010 1:47 PM