Obituary of Edna Allene Saylors Cotton

Edna Allene Saylors Cotton, 98, died August 31, 2021 in Columbia, SC. Born in Anderson, SC in 1922, she was the youngest child of the late John Preston Saylors and Pauline Campbell Saylors. She was married for 67 years to the late Herbert Stuart Cotton.

She received her associates degree from Anderson College and worked until her retirement as a secretary in the dental clinic at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Columbia. An avid and loyal Clemson fan until her death, you could find her, her husband and many of the family at most Clemson football games. She was an exemplary wife and homemaker, and took great satisfaction in running an orderly and loving home. One of the many works of needle-art she created was a cross-stitched canvas saying “To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth.” Nothing was more important to her than the love of her family, and nothing was more important to her family than to return that love.

Her life was centered around her faith, family and friends. She was a longtime member of Greenlawn Baptist Church and served the Lord through her church in many capacities. Sundays in the Cotton home were always reserved for worship, family and a big Sunday dinner.

She was preceded in death by her son, John Cotton. Surviving are her sons, Herbert Cotton, Jr. of Edgemoor and David Cotton (Susan) of Clemson; daughters, Nancy Johnson (Ron) of Cayce and Mary Hubble (Bob) of Columbia; and daughter-in-law, Debie Cotton of Simpsonville. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. 

A graveside service will be held on Sunday, September 5, 2021, 2:00pm, at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia. To view the service via TribuCast, please click here or access the following url: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8739547403 

The family will receive visitors at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn from 12:30-1:30pm prior to the service.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts in lieu of flowers should direct them to Greenlawn Baptist Church, 6612 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209.