Obituary of Sonia Pearl Cockrell

Sonia Pearl Ricard Cockrell, 94, of Lexington, South Carolina passed away November 29, 2018.  She was born July, 30 1924 in Leesville, South Carolina.  She was the daughter of the late Cornealious “Neal” R. and Mattie Kyzer Ricard and was raised on a Leesville farm.

She was the loving mother of Randy Cockrell (Clarice), Caffie Thornton, Terry Cockrell (Lavonne) and Beth Griffith (George).  She had eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. 

Sonia, known as Grandmama or Mrs. Cockrell, loved raising children and cooking for her family. She helped raising many of her grandchildren and neighbors from her home and at Jackie’s Daycare. She also worked in a sewing room and became an impressive seamstress while Reverend Cockrell served in WWII Army Infantry.

Sonia was committed to her role as the reverend’s wife first at Sardis Baptist Church and then at Congaree Baptist Church for 18 years, with many churches in between and after. She knew this was the path the Lord created for her and she was diligent about executing it. There were a total of 58 churches by the time of her husband’s retirement.

While there were many services to attend, she also served those churches in countless ways by attending WMU meetings, teaching bible lessons and VBS, cooking for covered-dish occasions, attending weddings, funerals, and baptisms. Sonia patiently waited while Reverend Cockrell blessed their congregation each Wednesday and twice on Sunday. Her grandchildren recall waiting in the car for over an hour after most services!

Sonia was a blessing to many people through her prayers and as a brilliant, southern cook. She was a prayer warrior and led many people out of desperate situations with her gentle, yet unbridled faith. People knew they could come to her with their request big or small. And if you ever were fortunate enough to have her biscuits or vegetable soup fresh with vegetables fresh from her garden, you understand!

She could make anything taste delicious and kept a flourishing garden throughout most of her life, primarily to put food away for the winter for her family and share with her neighbors. She always thought of others first and embodied unselfish ambition.

She was a member of the various churches where Reverend Cockrell served. But she was an active, most-recent member of First Baptist Church of West Columbia. She leaves many friends at Morningside, Lexington where she lived, sang, played bingo, and shared stories during her time there.

Sonia leaves the legacy of affection for others, exuberance of life, serenity, sense of compassion, the ability to direct energy wisely, and conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. She was the Proverbial Woman.

The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington on Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Congaree Baptist Church.  Interment will be at Southland Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lexington Baptist Association, 255 Two Notch Rd., Lexington, SC 29073

Mom, you will forever be missed.