Marjorie E. Cotter

Marjorie Yvonne (Eicher) Cotter was born May 8, 1918 to second generation Americans Edna and Russell Eicher in Youngstown, Ohio. She was a child of the depression who outlived her generation in many ways. Raised in the Worthington, Ohio area amongst an extended rural family, she later attended The Ohio State University. Thereafter, she became intimately involved with the Methodist Church. Ultimately, she served as an officer of the Methodist Home Mission Board in New York City, where she also collaborated with a young Reverend Bill Graham. She took her love of playing the organ and piano (both professionally and in churches) there and to other cities where she lived. She also met and married James Leroy Cotter, Jr. of Tampa, Florida in New York City during World War II. Her marriage and family took her to Virginia, Georgia, Illinois and New York City on the way back to Atlanta, raising two sons along the way. She arrived in Sandy Springs when it only had two lane roads, a few traffic lights, and a one lane bridge into Cobb County. She was a founding member of the Sandy Springs Garden Club, which has become Heritage Sandy Springs. She was the office manager for an independent Sandy Springs insurance agency (like her father had), became active in the City of Sandy Springs movement and other community work. Later, she traded in her traveling Baby Grand piano for the first of many convertibles. The last was fire engine red, bought when she was 82 and driven until she was 92. Her boys grew into men, married, and brought her two daughters and 3 grandchildren, each of whom had a distinct relationship with her. In recent years, she enjoyed getting to know her two great granddaughters when they visited from Florida. As a senior, she was fiercely independent after her husband of 38 years passed in 1983, first living in a condo on the Chattahoochee River and later at Mount Vernon Towers. She now joins her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, leaving these marks and memories here. She passed peacefully on Sunday, May 29, 2016, from declining health. She is survived by her children, James and Theresa Cotter of Ocala, Florida and Steve and Cindy Cotter of Atlanta, Georgia; her grandchildren, Yvonne and Jason Stice of North Port, Florida, Zachary Burson Cotter of Alexandria, Virginia, and Christian and Leah Cotter of Sarasota, Florida; and also her great grandchildren, Taylor Stice and Georgia Rae Cotter. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to Heritage Sandy Springs or the Salvation Army. Graveside services will be Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 3 o’clock at Arlington Memorial Park with Dr. Mark Crumpler officiating.