Elizabeth “Libby” Cocke Williams, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2020. Libby was born on September 23, 1939, in Memphis, Tennessee, to her late parents, Marie Dickerson Cocke and James Wheeler Cocke. Libby graduated from Millington Central High School in 1957 where she was the editor of the school newspaper and graduated Salutatorian. She attended Blue Mountain College, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelors degree in Education and where she was Vice President of the Euzelin Society. She taught English for two years in Valmeyer, Illinois. She then returned to Memphis where she retired after teaching Spanish for 30 years at White Station High School, Memphis Technical High School and Memphis Central High School. While teaching at Memphis Tech, she met her husband, Bryan Eugene Williams. They were married in June 1971. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with their family and friends.
In addition to her parents, Libby is preceded in death by her husband, Bryan, her brother, James Wheeler “Bubba” Cocke, her nephew, James Robert Melton, and two brothers-in-law, Melvin Ward and Jay Melton. She is survived by her sisters, Carolyn Ward and Nancy Melton, her brother-in- law, Horace (Ruth) Williams, as well as her niece, Elizabeth (Paul) Darke, and nephew, Mike (Cheryl) Ward. She also had several great nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. The family will receive friends Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9:30am until the funeral service begins at 11am, all at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave. Following a reception, burial will take place at Northridge Woodhaven Cemetery in Millington, TN. The family requests that any memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Blue Mountain College.
