Willard Gerald "Jerry" Cochran

Jerry was born in Walker Country, AL to Willard and Lorene Cochran on May 26, 1938 and spent his childhood in Warrior, AL. Jerry had wanted to work with the railroad growing up, and he made that a reality after studying telegraphy in Kansas City, then getting a job with the Burlington Northern Railroad in Chicago as a wire chief. He joined the Army and participated in the communications program where he was proud to receive top honors. He was stationed in Germany for 18 months and received an honorable discharge in 1960. He returned to Chicago to continue his work with the railroad. There he met his beloved wife, Mary. They moved back to his hometown to start a business and a family. In 1970, he opened Cochran TV Sales and Service, which he owned for thirty years. His son, Chris, was born in 1976, and daughter, Candice, in 1978. He drove a school bus for Jefferson County and was always involved in his church community. Jerry and Mary both obtained their real estate broker licenses and worked for local realty companies. Jerry’s favorite place was the beach, and he fulfilled another life goal when he purchased a place in Panama City Beach in 1990, where his family spent many happy times there and swimming and fishing at Mountain Woods Lake in Hayden, AL.

One of his greatest sources of pride is that after serving on the City Council for sixteen years, he was elected Mayor of Warrior and served from 2000-2004. He loved his hometown and the people there. The greatest thing about being mayor, he said, was being able to make a difference and help people.

Jerry is remembered as being a kind, loving, generous man. People have shared memories about how they loved to hear him play the piano in church, and how he was always kind to the students who rode his bus. He adored his wife, Mary, and they had 53 wonderful years together. He loved their road trips out west and the times they spent at the lake and the beach. He was thrilled when his grandson, Wesley, was born in 2011, and they spent many happy years together with Jerry teaching him how to cook, playing the piano for him, going to his football practices, and always being willing to play basketball or wrestle with him. This was truly his joy in his last few years.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Mary, the love of his life. He also leaves his son Chris (Alex) Cochran, his daughter Candice (DC) Espy, Candice’s son Wesley Mizelle, stepdaughter, Michelle (Ronnie) Jennings, two step-grandchildren, Tony (Teresa) Jennings and Melissa (Rick) Howard, and two step-great-grandchildren, Braxton and Everett Howard. He is also survived by his nieces Kim (Cliff) Gillies and Lisa Cochran, Michelle (Charlie) McElroy, nephews Mike Cochran and Greg (Beth) Ruhl, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and his beloved church family at Hope Community Church, where he was a member. Jerry is predeceased by his mother, Lorene Thomas Cochran, father Willard Cochran, his brothers, Charles Lavon Cochran and Dennis Harold Cochran, and good friend Earl Stopher.

In the last year of Jerry’s life, he received a wonderful surprise when he learned that he had a half-brother, Will Cochran, in Portland, OR. This added a special blessing for him, as they found they had many things in common and enjoyed many happy conversations on the phone.

Services will be held at Hope Community Church, 805 Crest Drive, Gardendale, AL 35071. Visitation will begin at 12:30 with a service to follow at 2:00. A brief graveside service will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. All are welcome to join.

In Lieu of Flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.