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Obituary for Mary Cleo White Colmer-Cothen
Mary Cleo Colmer-Cothen passed away on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the age of 98 following a lengthy illness. At the time Mrs. Colmer-Cothen was a resident of the Arbor, a wing of The Orchard, a retirement and care facility in Ridgeland, Mississippi. The family would like to thank all of the nurses and care givers who so lovingly cared for her.
Mrs. Colmer-Cothen was born in McComb, Mississippi on January 10, 1920 to Mary Alice, nee Reeves, and Cleon B. White. Her brothers included James Dewitt White, John Purser White, and C. B. White, all deceased. She is survived by her only sister, Lena Kleinpeter of Gilsburg and McComb, Mississippi.
Mrs. Colmer-Cothen attended Women's College in Hattiesburg which became Mississippi Southern in 1962. She continued her education at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, receiving her Masters degree in Library Science.
Mrs. Colmer-Cothen married her former McComb High School principal, Dr. Arthur R. Colmer of Moss Point, Mississippi. After a number of affiliations with various educational institutions they settled in Baton Rough, Louisiana where they were both on the staff of Louisiana State University, he as a professor of bacteriology and she as a librarian. Both made significant contributions to their respective programs. Following their retirement, they returned to Moss Point where they resided for many years and attended the Moss Point Presbyterian Church.
Following the death of Dr. Colmer, Mrs Colmer-Cothen married the Reverend Grady Cothen, a Baptist minister and former president of the New Orleans Seminary and several entities of the Southern Baptist Convention. Before his death in May of 2017, Dr. and Mrs. Cothen resided at the Orchard for several years.
Funeral arrangements have been made by Sebrell Funeral Home in Ridgeland. Mrs.Colmer-Cothen will be returned to Moss Point where she will lie in repose for visitation by family and friends. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p. m. on Saturday, June 9th at the Moss Point Presbyterian Church located at 3707 Dantzler Street in Moss Point.
Following the visitation there will be a grave-side gathering by family members where Mrs. Colmer-Cothen will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Arthur Colmer. Interment will be in Machpelah Cemetery of Pascagoula.
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