Marks ancestors were members of “The First Family of Tennessee”. The Cockrill family arrived in the Nashville area in 1779. Tennessee became a state in 1796. Mark attended Bellevue Junior High School, where he gained the nickname "Buck" which followed him to Humes High School in Memphis.
He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 with his parents permission. After the Navy he worked at 20th Century Production; where he met his future wife Martha Marie Taylor. Mark then joined the Memphis Police Department in the motorcycle division. He retired as a truck driver for the Shoney’s Corporation.
He leaves four children; Cathy Martin (John) of Gainesville, Florida; David Cockrill (Mary Kathryn) of Maryville, Tennessee; Bonnie Ann Cockrill (Danny) of Memphis and Mary Helen Cianciolo (Tony) of Memphis. Mark also leaves behind five grandchildren and three great grandchildren with another on the way.
He was preceded in death by his wife Martha Marie Taylor Cockrill (2009) and granddaughter Kimberly Meili Coughlin (2007).
A visitation for Mark will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133, followed by a funeral service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Mark's name to Shelby County Humane Society at [email protected].
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Cockrill family.
