Joseph Herbert Cothen Jr.

Joseph Herbert Cothen, Jr., was born September 8, 1926, at Red Hill, Mississippi, a rural community outside of Poplarville, MS, in Pearl River County. His parents were Joseph Herbert Cothen, Sr., and Mamie Coulter Cothen. Papa Jodie was a bi-vocational pastor and logger. Mamie was a homemaker.

Joseph Herbert Cothen, Jr., was also affectionately known as D.O., Daddy, Herbert, Smokin’ Joe, Chief, Pastor, Preacher, Dean, and Pawpaw.

Joe was married to Willie Hazel Moulder Cothen on June 11, 1946. They were married until her death on Labor Day, 2004. They had three children: Joseph Herbert Cothen, III (Teresa), Cynthia Karen Cothen Morgan (Keith), and Nathan Harold Cothen (Vicki).

Joe was a combat veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific. He returned home from World War II in the Pacific theater, married Hazel, and ultimately graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor’s Degree, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a B.Div., and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Th.D. He would later also earn a M.A. in Communications from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1970.

He served as pastor of churches in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. His most notable pastoral ministries were at Alta Woods Baptist Church in Jackson, MS, from 1958-1968 and Oak Park Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA, from 1971-1977.

He served two tenures at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. First, he served from 1968-1971 as Professor Of Communications. Second, he served as Professor of Pastoral Work and Preaching and later Academic Dean from 1977-1992.

During retirement he preached in numerous churches and served as interim pastor many times.

He was a prolific writer. His notable books included: Come to Bethlehem; The Preacher’s Notebook on Isaiah (with J. Olen Strange); Equipped for Good Work; The Pulpit is Waiting; The Old, Old Story: A Guide to Narrative Preaching; and A Case for Caring.

Joe married Vivian Weimer in 2005. They lived together in Pearl, Mississippi, and later Flowood, Mississippi, until the time of his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents; all three brothers: Aubrey, Harold, and Grady; and his wife of 58 years, Hazel.

He is survived by all three children, Vivian, and her two sons: Chuck Weimer (Sue), Pearl, MS; and Randy Weimer (Ginger), of West Point, MS; their families; and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS, on Sunday, December 29, 2019, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the same location Monday, December 30, 2019, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to the Providence Fund at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana.