Emily Gordy Cottingham

Salisbury, MD. Emily Gordy Cottingham, 90, passed away on May 27, 2022 at Coastal Hospice Stansell House in Ocean Pines, MD. Born October 23, 1931 in Salisbury to Ralph R Gordy and Martha Pusey Gordy. After the death of Martha, she and her sister Nancy moved with their father and step mother Margaret Gordy to Snow Hill, MD. Upon starting school in Snow Hill High School, she met the love of her life, Johnny Cottingham. After high school she attended PGH nursing program and became an RN. The high school sweethearts married in 1952 while John was serving in the US Marine Corps. They lived in California where John was stationed until he left the service, and they returned home to Salisbury to be close to family.

Emily worked as a nurse for her whole career until her retirement in the early nineties with time spent at PGH, Dr. Andrew C Mitchell, Wicomico Board of Education, and finally Drs. Womack, Smith, and Winnicott, from which she retired. As an OBGYN nurse she was well known in the community and assisted in bringing many babies into the world.

Emily was active in PTA and was a Cub Scout den mother. One of the principals of an early elementary school said 50 years later he remembered her and could count on her to be there for her sons. She was a loyal friend to many. She kept in touch with her high school classmates and served on her high school reunion committee for many years. She kept in touch with several of her nursing school classmates, especially Nita Sheldon whose sons grew up side by side with Emily’s sons. Nita traveled from Stuarts Draft, VA recently to visit with Emily at Delmar Villa.

John and Emily were long time members of Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church where Emily was a Deacon and member of the women’s group.

Emily is preceded in death by her beloved husband John, her parents Ralph and Martha Gordy, step mother Margaret Gordy, and sister Nancy Rinehart.

She is survived by her sons J. Michael Cottingham (Mary), J. Patrick Cottingham (Karen), and Jeffrey T. Cottingham (Dr. Stacy); grandchildren Dr. Patrick Cottingham (Dr. Kim Middleton), Kelly Cottingham (Dr. Sean Droms), Charles B. Wrightson (Barrie Lynn), Rebecca Lewis (Andy), Daniel Cohen, Andrea Cottingham, Cpl. Katherine Sechser (LCpl. Joshua), Shannon Cottingham; great-grandchildren Layla & Wyatt Lewis, Chloe & AJ Wrightson, and Miles & baby Sechser.

Emily is also survived by nieces Virginia Schnepel, Pam Sears, Suzanne Bishop and Nancy Rodriguez; and nephews Gary and Carl Cottingham.

The family thanks her caregivers at Atria in Salisbury, Delmar Villa in Delmar, and the Stansell House for their compassion.

A celebration of life will be held at Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church in Snow Hill, MD, Saturday, June 4th at 11am with visitation at 10am and reception following the service in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733 or Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church 115 Franklin St., Snow Hill, MD 21863 in remembrance of Emily G. Cottingham.