Ethel B. Cotton

Ethel Cotton was born on April 18, 1935, to father, Bennie Lee Gilkey and mother, Florence Duncan. She was one of five children.

Ethel grew up in Macon, Mississippi and was educated in the Macon School District. Ethel married Riley Cotton where they relocated to Gary, Indiana before moving to Cleveland, Ohio. There were four children born to this union, Alphonso Cotton, Lee Roy Cotton, William “Ray” Cotton, and Diane Cotton.

Ethel was a dedicated and domesticated worker until she retired. She then enjoyed traveling and being with loved ones. On July 25, 2020, God saw his servant Ethel getting tired and said “You have fought the good fight and kept the faith, therefore I am calling you from your labor, to reward.”

Ethel was preceded in death by her father, Bennie Lee Gilkey; mother, Florence Duncan; brothers, Bennie Gilkey, and Charles Gilkey; and her son, Lee Roy Cotton.

Ethel leaves to cherish her memories, her children, Alphonso Cotton, William "Ray" Cotton, and Diane Cotton; siblings, Henry Gilkey, Adell Gilkey, Ora Gilkey of Macon, MS, Albert Gilkey, James Sharp of St. Louis, MO, Ann Gilkey, Lula Hanley of St. Louis, MO, George Gilkey, William “Bill” Gilkey of St. Louis, MO, and Eda Barrow of Chicago, IL; two sister-in-law, Ruth Gilkey of Atlanta, GA, and Savannah Cotton of Eutaw, AL; grandchildren, Zulema Thompson, Danita Ward, Nickette Cotton and Sherita Cotton; great grandchildren, Glen Larry IV, Christopher Perkins, Tierra Perkins, and Tyanna Perkins; as well as a host of great-great grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.