Maxine Cochran

SHELBY: On Wednesday afternoon, November 1, 2023, Maxine Cochran went to be with her LORD, her Mama and Daddy, her husband Lem and her son Eric, and a host of other loved ones who greeted her at heaven’s gate; she was finally home, a place she longed for daily. After years of suffering with Alzheimer’s, in what seemed like the twinkling of an eye, she was completely healed and in the presence of God. All Praise Rise to our God from whom all blessings flow!
Born Phyllis Maxine Vinesett in Cherokee County, South Carolina to Coleman and Euzelia Simmons Vinesett on July 2, 1934, she was the second daughter in a family that would grow, in the end, to a total of nine siblings. She grew up working on the farm and doing the chores a farm brings with it, as well as helping her parents in the cotton fields, picking cotton to help raise money for her family. As one of the older children, her days were long, and the work was hard, yet she still managed to nurture her love of sports, mainly basketball and softball. Maxine became a master cook of Southern cuisine, which became one of her gifts everyone benefited from with each dish she prepared. Maxine also excelled at baking cakes, pies, and desserts. She loved babies and caring for children, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who, in her eyes, could do no wrong. Maxine was also known as a natural born caregiver; she was the best, caring for so many people throughout her life until the time came that she had to be taken care of herself.
A graduate of Boiling Springs High School, Maxine went straight to work at Dover Mill as a spinner in the spinning department. It was a job she would keep until her retirement. Maxine married Lemuel George Cochran on Sunday, April 10, 1955; they were married for over 63 years before his passing August 1, 2018. They built a loving home and raised three children, their girls, Brenda, and Phyllis, along with their son, Eric. They were lifelong members of Flint Hill Baptist Church where both were active as faithful servants to their LORD in many capacities as teachers and leaders, deacons, and choir members. Their children, along with their spouses, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren celebrated their marriage and the special love they shared with celebrations at 25, 40, 50 and 60 years, along with other family, friends, and fellowship. It was their feeble attempt to somehow express the overwhelming love that dwells within each of them to this day for their Mama and Daddy, their Mamaw and Papaw. It is an emotion that no word or deed could adequately portray as they were both simply adored by all who knew them. It was at the time of their son’s unexpected death in a car accident on March 29, 1991, Maxine showed the real strength she bore, a strength that can only be explained by the Holy Spirit dwelling within her. She was a true Steel Magnolia from that moment on, learning to live life well once again, but always with a special corner of her heart forever broken for the remainder of her life; it became whole again on Wednesday afternoon as she was reunited, after almost 33 years, with her baby boy, whom she loved and missed every day.
In addition to her parents, her husband and her son, Maxine was preceded in death by her stepmother Ruby Vinesett and her mother and father-in-law Admiral Dewey McKinley Cochran and Eula Mae Crain Cochran. She was also preceded in death by great-grandson Jarrett Lee Wellmon and great-great-granddaughter Shealeigh Rose Brooks; her sisters and brother-in-law Debbie Anthony and Martha and Hubert Greene; her brothers, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jack and Betty Simmons, Wallace and Doris Vinesett, Hoyt Hester, Wilma Vinesett, Bobby Blanton, GC Blanton, Joe Europa and Bob Constant; her Cochran brothers and sisters-in-law Paul and Laura Jean Cochran, Frances and Hubert Pruett, Runell and Earnest Etters, Lester and Betty Jean Cochran, Max and Reba Cochran, James Burgess, Amiel Owen, and Roy and Sandra (Cathey) Cochran.
Maxine is survived by her daughter Brenda and her husband Kenneth Wellmon with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Jamie and Chris Wilson, Jackson, Benjamin and Olivia Wilson, Galen Davis, Elisha Wellmon, Jessica Brooks, Tevin and Tori Brooks, Shiloh and Sadie, Jay and Alyssa Brooks, Natalie and Leo, and Orlando Brooks, Jerry and Laura Wellmon, Lily and Julia; her daughter Phyllis and her husband Cecil with their children and grandchildren, Ryan and Natalie Clark, Elliott, Cooper, and Teagan and Hillary Clark. Her brother and sisters, Beuna Hester, Tom Vinesett, Pat and her husband Tommy Ledbetter, Jane Raduly, Stan Anthony, who was more like a son, and Karen, Grace Constant, Shirley Europa and her sister-in -law Shirley Owen. She is also survived by a whole host of nieces and nephews, as well as a very special best friend of her son, Jody Ledbetter, and his wife Leslie.
The family sends a special thank you to the many caregivers who helped to care for Mama for the past 3 years: Jan Culbreth, Delores (Doodle) Webb, Tammy Kiser, Geraldine Dover, Trudy Hopper and Nakia Laney. A very special thank you to an angel here on this earth who worked tirelessly when Mama’s care became much more challenging in recent months and most especially for all she did this past Wednesday as Mama departed from this world, Shawn “Shawnee” Butler. To each of you, we will never be able to thank you enough for everything, most especially for loving our Mama and Mamaw. With the help of each of you, we were able to keep Mama at home, which is where she wanted to be more than anything, even if she mostly didn’t realize where she was. To the Hospice Staff who worked with Mama through the summer, a huge “Thank You” to Joanie, Beth, Cheryl, Reagan, Marie, Wanda, Gloria, and especially to what Mama called, “the girls,” Brandy and Sierra. You are truly the hands and feet of Jesus here on this earth and you all blessed her life each week. Our prayers continue to cover you as you continue on your way working with, ministering and blessing others.
A celebration of Maxine’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Flint Hill Baptist Church, 2207 Flint Hill Church Road, Shelby, North Carolina on Sunday, November 5, 2023, with Rev. Keith Dixon and Rev. Tim Trexler officiating. Receiving of friends will be held from 2-3 p.m. prior to the service in the church sanctuary. Her family will be at her home at other times. A family burial will be at 2 PM on Monday afternoon, November 6, 2023, at Cleveland Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your choice of the Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150, to Flint Hill Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church, Pleasant City Church, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church or Life Enrichment Center of Shelby.
Arrangements are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation Center of Shelby www.claybarnette.com