Obituaries
Mary Beth Cockrell, 53, of Bartlett, Tenn., passed away on March 28, 2023.
Beth was born on April 28, 1969 to Anita Kimery and Edgar Leroy “Buddy” Graves at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. She grew up in the Frayser area of Memphis, Hickory Valley, Tenn. and then moved to Middleton, Tenn. where she graduated from Middleton High School in 1987. From there, she made her way on to Jackson State Community College where she achieved an associates degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Beth had an immense love for nature. She had a knack for pointing out small details and noticing subtle nuances of her outdoor surroundings. Most of all, Beth enjoyed the white sand beaches of Pensacola, where her mother lived and eventually passed. She felt closer to Anita there and visited as often as possible.
If you’ve ever met Beth, you were warmly greeted with open arms and questions of interest. She never met a stranger she couldn’t talk to or argue with. Beth had a free spirit and a heart of grace; one that only pushed people to be their truest selves.
On March 17, 1989, Beth married Donald Mark Cockrell. The following November, she gave birth to Kimery Elizabeth and five years later to Joshua Mark. She was a stay-at-home mom who raised her children with a sunny disposition. This zeal and positive outlook still empowers them to look at life as a glass half full.
Her love for life and people not only motivated her friends and family, but also extended into her career. As an at home caregiver with Visiting Angels, Beth was able to express her natural loving ways in a professional manner through the caring of various people in need. During her time at Visiting Angels, she gained a lifelong friend known simply as “Ms. Annie”. They were brought together by a random work assignment, but their friendship was destined from day one.
Beth loved to cook. She often experimented with new recipes, calling her daughter frequently to try the newest concoction she had just stumbled upon. Among other pastimes, Beth was a passionate reader, making time for any Steven King or Sci-Fi book she could get her hands on. She inherited a love for music from her mother with the “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis Presley, ranking number one on her list of favorite artists.
Beth was preceded in death by her father and mother, Buddy and Anita Graves. She is survived by her husband Mark Cockrell, son Josh Cockrell; daughter and son-in-law Kimery Cockrell and William Payton McCollum; and their two children Poppy Ruth, and Wren Elizabeth; ***brothers Steven Lee Graves and Warren Todd Graves.
A memorial in Beth’s honor will be held at 2pm on April 3, 2023 at Oliver Creek Church of Christ located at 8313 US-70, Arlington, TN 38002. Please send flowers or tokens of loving memory to the church address.
Serenity Funeral Home (901)379-0861.
Previous Events
Visitation
3
Apr
8313 US-70
Arlington, TN 38002
Memorial
3
Apr
8313 US-70
Arlington, TN 38002
