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Obituary for Dr. James Harris Cotten
Dr. James Harris Cotten was born August 2, 1930, to the late Leon Harris Cotten and Irene (Fox) Cotten in Jackson, MS. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Woodland Hills Baptist Church. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM Saturday at the church. His family moved to the old family farm, Rendezvous, in Carthage. At the age of nine, Dr. Cotten's father passed away and he had to take over many of the farm duties. Dr. Cotten graduated from high school in three years and went to Ole Miss and pledged Kappa Sigma. He transferred to Mississippi College and became the first graduate of the new school of Journalism. He had several careers after college and also completed service in the Navy as a ship's journalist. He taught school at Bailey Junior High in Jackson for ten years where he met the love of his life, the beautiful young math teacher, Mary Jane Hathorn of Louisville, MS. They married in July of 1958 and had two children Joy de'Vonn and Bryant Harris. Dr. Cotten went back to college and eventually earned two masters degrees and his PhD. He spent the last twenty years of his career at The Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind which he helped to open, and wrote the training and counseling programs. He retired in 1992 and spent over two decades developing his beloved blueberry farm in Carthage. Dr. Cotten's greatest loves were the Lord, his family and his ministry to others. He was passionate about his church, Woodland Hills Baptist Church where he taught the men's Adult Five class for twenty five years. He was a Deacon and was on the Transportation Committee. He enjoyed writing, travel, farming, fishing, studying and speaking Spanish, reading the Bible, volunteering, visitation, creating greeting cards, conquering new technology and entertaining others with his stories. He will be deeply missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchild, friends and relatives. When you talked to Dr. Cotten, you were the most important person in the world. He is survived by his wife Mary Jane Hathorn Cotten, a daughter, Joy de’Vonn Roessel (Larry) and their son Lawrence; a son, Bryant Harris and his daughters Alex Cotten, and Krista Lea (Russell) and their daughter, Addison; a brother, Judge VR Cotten (Ginger) and his sister, Ann Marie Walker as well as many nieces, nephews and first cousins. The family would like to say special thanks to Pat Gordon (niece), Sue Berry, Phil Sheppardson and Merry Hearts Personal Care. Memorials may be made to Woodland Hills Baptist Church or MS. School For the Blind.
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