Louise B. Cochrane

Louise Odell Blanks Cochrane, age 99, passed away December 10, 2015. She was born at Long Branch Plantation, Halifax County, Virginia, the youngest of fourteen children to Francis Elizabeth Carr and William Jefferson Blanks. Mrs. Cochrane is survived by her husband of 81 years, James Harwood Cochrane. Their marriage stood as the10th longest surviving marriage in the world by Wikipedia. Louise was the mother of four children: Judith Carr Cochrane Gilman-Hines (Spencer Hines), Suzanne Hope Cochrane Austell Martin (deceased), Treena Louise Cochrane (died in infancy) and James Harwood Cochrane, Jr. She was “Lulu” to eight grandchildren, Emily Louise (Amy) Gilman Remke (Chris), Wilba Pettus Gilman, Jr. (Kathy), James Christopher Gilman (Renée), Anne Gail Jennings (Gary), Suzanne Lucretia Austell, Elizabeth Hendren McKenney (deceased), Jennifer Giles Austell, Anna Dozal Hogan (Arthur) and fifteen great grandchildren. A faithful member of Tabernacle Baptist Church since 1934, she was baptized and married by Dr. Aubrey Williams. Mrs. Cochrane taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and served in the Woman’s Missionary Union. She was an active member in various organizations including the Tuckahoe Woman’s Club (President 1978-1980), The Woman’s Club, Rockville Woman’s Club, Richmond Artists Association, Rappahannock Art League and a founding member of the Tuckahoe Artists Association. Gifted in the creative arts, she was a painter, seamstress, needlewoman and rosarian. As her centennial birthday approached, she had prepared a one-woman art show for The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for her January 30, 2016 celebration. Mrs. Cochrane acted as a member of The Council and a VMFA Board Member. Her charitable donations are far reaching but she was most notably connected with Tabernacle Baptist Church, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s Rose Belvidere. She was a patroness to the Richmond Symphony and Virginia Opera and often included them in her milestone celebrations. When the Cochranes planned their Hanover County home, Walnut Hill, in Rockville, they painstakingly salvaged the interior woodwork from her birthplace after it had been destroyed by a hurricane. The Cochranes lived at Walnut Hill for 51 years before moving to Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. Funeral arrangements by Dignity Memorial - Woody Funeral Home - Parham, 1771 N. Parham Rd. Visitation with the family in the Cochrane Chapel will be held from 1-4 pm Saturday. A celebration of her amazing life will be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Monday at 1pm. A private interment at Westhampton Memorial Park following. Memorial gifts may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1925 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220 or the charity of your choosing. Woody Funeral Home-Parham, Richmond, VA.