Rev. Raymond Paul Cockerham

Rev. Raymond Paul Cockerham, age 81, of Columbia, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at home following an extended illness.

Raymond was born on August 4, 1932 to J. L. and Mattie Bradshaw Cockerham in Liberty, Mississippi. Raymond felt the call to the ministry as a teenager. He followed that call for over 50 years. In his retirement years he continued in ministry as long as his health permitted. During the course of his ministry, he served as Pastor to numerous Methodist churches in Georgia and Tennessee. He retired with the United Methodist Conference. Raymond also retired from the state of Georgia after 28 years as a school teacher.

For 47 years Raymond was married to Thelma McCant Cockerham who was the mother of his children and actively served by his side in ministry until her passing on October 6, 2008.

Raymond is survived by his daughters: Lesa Cockerham of Florida and Mary (Steve) Matheny of Columbia; grandchildren: Cory Cockerham, Ashton Matheny and Connor Matheny; brother: Bill (Naomi) Cockerham of Georgia; sister: Katherine Stokes of Mississippi and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents: J. L. and Mattie Cockerham; wife and mother of his children: Thelma McCant Cockerham; second wife: Judy Criner Cockerham; brother: Wallace Cockerham and sisters: Louise Dunagan, Jessie Lane Gordon and Mary Francis “Doll” Smith.

Funeral services for Rev. Cockerham will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Rev. Bob Vassar officiating. Interment will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens in the Garden of Devotion. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. immediately preceding the funeral service.

Robin Langley, Bobby Chance, Cory Cockerham, Ashton Matheny, Tom Halter, Steve Matheny and Connor Matheny will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the NHC Hillview Class, Wednesday Night Men’s Group and McDonald’s Coffee Club. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Gaylon Harris for his care of their father.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Heights Food Pantry or to the Sanyati Mission through Pleasant Heights Baptist Church.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.williamsfh.com .