HENDERSONVILLE- THE REV. ELIJAH ALEXANDER COCKMAN PASSED AWAY ON MAY 10, 2018 IN HENDERSONVILLE, NC. HE WAS BORN IN ASHEBORO, NC, APRIL 21, 1930, TO WILLIAM CURTIS COCKMAN AND CORA LEE BEANE. HIS MOTHER DIED A SHORT TIME AFTER HIS BIRTH. LATER, HIS FATHER MARRIED CALLIE BELLE KING FROM SEAGROVE, NC.
ELIJAH EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE FROM MARION COLLEGE {NOW INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY} IN 1951 AND A MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE FROM ASBURY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN 1956. WHILE IN COLLEGE HE MET DORIS JOAN EVANS OF CONESVILLE, OH. THEY WERE MARRIED DECEMBER 24, 1951.
IN MARCH 1956 HE ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY CHAPLAINCY. ASSIGNMENTS WERE TO FT. BENNING, GEORGIA; CLEVELAND, OH; FT. McCLELLAN, ALABAMA; JAPAN; GERMANY AND VIETNAM. PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT AS A CHAPLAIN, HE SERVED AS AN ENLISTED MAN IN KOREA DURING THE KOREAN WAR. HIS MILITARY DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE BRONZE STAR AND THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER. HE RETIRED FROM MILITARY SERVICE IN 1974 AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
FROM 1974 TO 1980 HE SERVED AS PASTOR OF GREENWOOD HILLS WESLEYAN CHURCH IN HIGH POINT, NC. IN FEBRUARY 1980, HE WAS RECEIVED INTO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE WESTERN NC. CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AS AN ELDER IN FULL CONNECTION. APPOINTMENTS IN THE CONFERENCE WERE TO PINEY MOUNTAIN, DAVIS CHAPEL, PISGAH CHARGE, 1980-1981; HAYWOOD STREET, ASHEVILLE 1981-1983; PLEASANT GROVE, THOMASVILLE 1983-1988; TRYON 1988-1991 AND COMMONWEALTH, CHARLOTTE 1991-1994. UPON RETIREMENT FROM ACTIVE MINISTRY IN 1994, HE AND HIS WIFE MADE THEIR HOME IN HENDERSONVILLE, NC.
ELIJAH IS SURVIVED BY HIS SON, WESLEY COCKMAN AND WIFE ELIZABETH; DAUGHTER, LESLIE CAROL (COCKMAN) MERRILL AND HUSBAND JAY, FOUR GRANDCHILDREN: MICHAEL AND WIFE MOLLY, CAROLINE MARIE, WESLEY, AND SAMUEL; ONE GREAT-GRANDCHILD NOLAN; BROTHER, JOHN COCKMAN AND WIFE JANE; TWO SISTERS: SARAH MYERS AND HUSBAND JACK, VIRGINIA SPEAKS AND HUSBAND JACKIE; ONE BROTHER-IN-LAW, DWAIN KITCHEL
A FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD ON 15 MAY 2018, 2PM AT HOPEWELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SHERRILLS FORD, NC, WITH THE REVEREND JOHN BRYANT OFFICIATING. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS IN THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER FROM 1 – 2PM PRIOR TO THE SERVICE. ELIJAH IS BEING LAID TO REST IN THE CHURCH CEMETERY NEXT TO HIS WIFE JOAN AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.
BUNCH-JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME IS HONORED TO BE SERVING THE COCKMAN FAMILY.
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