Joseph Fred Cockerham, age 85, of Elkin, N.C. died at the Hugh Chatham Nursing Center on May 18, 2004. Fred Cockerham was born in Elkin, NC on February 24, 1919 to the late Luther Edgar Cockerham and Laura Jane Layne Cockerham. He attended Elkin schools and served in the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving an honorable discharge directly from Moore General Hospital in Swannanoa, NC after spending a year at the hospital, recovering from lifetime debilitating wounds received in Europe during military exercises. Fred returned to Elkin where a job, that became a career, was waiting for him at Chatham Manufacturing Company. He married Mary Ruth Thomasson in Elkin on July 16, 1950 and joined the First United Methodist Church, where he was a member at the time of his death. That he was an usher at the church for 35 years in addition to assisting with countless funerals reflects his devotion and loyalty. Fred was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW, the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans. He was a charter member of the World War II Memorial Society. Fred lived a productive life, loving his family, his church and the people in his community. Fred enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball; embracing the outdoors with yard, garden and hunting activities; involving himself with automobiles: driving, buying, selling and maintaining them in excellent condition. Fred enjoyed casual, humorous conversation with people, a trait that must have contributed longevity and pleasure to his life. A cherished brother, husband, father and grandfather, Fred will be missed greatly by his family. Predeceasing Fred were brothers Reece R. Cockerham of Statesville, NC and Thomas F. Cockerham of Jefferson, NC. Survivors include his wife of fifty three years, Mary Ruth Cockerham; daughter Ann Anderson and her husband, Tom, granddaughters Cathy and Jane Anderson, all of Pilot Mountain, NC; sisters Roette Peeples of Winston-Salem NC, Ola Jean Prevette and husband Roy, Lucile Golden and husband Howard, all of Elkin; brothers John Cockerham and wife Nancy of Winter Haven, FL and Jim Cockerham and wife Louise of Charlotte, NC; sisters-in-law Frances Cockerham of Statesville NC and Clairene Cockerham of Jefferson, NC and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 19, 2004 at Hodges Funeral Home, 560 NC Highway 268-W, Elkin NC 28621. Funeral Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Elkin, NC on Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. Following the funeral, a military burial service will be held at Crestwood Memorial Gardens, 590 US Hyw 21, State Road, NC. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church Kindergarten program at 340 Hawthorne Rd., Elkin, NC 28621, or to The Assistance Endowment Fund, Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community, 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104-1106. The family would like to thank the staff of Hugh Chatham Nursing Center for their kindness and compassion shown to them during Fred's illness. Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Cockerham family.
