Obituary of John Edwin Cotton

Columbia – John Edwin Cotton, Sr., 90, passed away peacefully April 9, 2024, at his home in Columbia, surrounded by his children and caregiver. Born in Eastover, he was the son of the late John Lawrence and Mary Adele (Harmon) Cotton. He graduated from Lower Richland High School before attending Clemson College for one year, then enlisting in the Navy in 1954. After his enlistment ended in 1958 he worked on the family farm until he met his wife, Georgia Farnum of St. Matthews, on a blind date in 1960. They married in 1961 and were together for 41 years before her passing in 2002.

He worked for Recognition Equipment for 30 years as a technician, traveling the country and the world installing complex business machines before retiring in 1991. But his love was farming. He farmed his home place part time in the late 70’s before he was able to acquire his own farm in Hopkins, known by family as the “Cotton Patch”, where he farmed part-time while working fulltime for 10 years. After his retirement, he farmed his beloved “Cotton Patch” for another 25 years plus leased neighboring land planting corn and soybeans. He was able to farm into his 80’s before his health declined.

His life was centered on his church, his family and his farm. He was an active member of Greenlawn Baptist Church for 62 years where he taught Sunday School and served as a Deacon. He also served his community through the Lower Richland Ruritan Club where he helped with fund raisers and grounds. He loved all manner of social gatherings with church friends and family. But nothing pleased him more than serving his friends and family with vegetables and corn from his garden. John never went one season without a robust garden at the “Cotton Patch” and he always planted enough for everyone. Each season in late June, there was always a “corn day” where the garden corn was ready for harvest and he invited one and all. Everyone left with as much corn as their trunk or truck bed could hold and John made sure nothing was wasted.

John was a master mechanic known for his ability to fix most things. He bought his farm equipment at auction and rebuilt it anew using his tools and knowhow. No detail was left unattended in all his efforts. Anything that couldn’t be fixed was saved for parts. No effort nor part was wasted and everything had its purpose and place. He was always willing to help friend or family with any type of repair, from a broken appliance to car trouble.

Surviving John are his two children, daughter Rebecca Adele (Cotton) Langley, of Columbia, son, John Edwin Cotton, Jr. (Glenda), of Seneca; five grandchildren, Whitaker Jane Langley of Columbia, Daniel Lewis Langley of Charleston, Brittney Ann Cotton McIver (Joseph) of Holly Springs, NC, Lyndsey Marie Cotton of Fuquay Varina, NC, Emilee Alyse Cotton of Clemson, SC; two great-grandchildren, Isaac Edwin McIver and Lydia Jo McIver. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Ellen Farnum Cotton, his sisters, Eloise and Mary Lawrence, and his brothers, Herbert and Robert.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Greenlawn Baptist Church Fellowship Hall renovation. Thank you to Prisma Health Hospice nurses and caregivers. A special thank you to Lena Hensley and Gwen Tyler for their care and companionship for John that enabled him to spend his last months at home in comfortable and familiar surroundings.