78, a resident of 4025 Pine Tree Hollow Rd., died Sunday, December 18 at his home. he was the son of the late George Cotten and Carrie Smith Cotten. He was a graduate of the former Mary Potter Academy and an avid hunter.

He is survived by his wife, Carolun Bailey Cotten; eight children, Joanne Cotten, Ellis Cotten, Sonya Brown (Michael) and Timothy Cotten (Latifa) all of Durham, North Carolina, James Cotten (Denise), Lebanon, MAine, Sharon Armstead (Ronnie), Chesterfield, VA, Anthony Bailey (Antionette) Owens Mills, Maryland, Anita Ellis (Warren) of Oxford, North Carolina; seven sisters, Ethel Garrett (Eugene), Greensboro, North Carolina, Margie Hunt, Barbara Smith, judy Burwell (Robert) and Vivian Herndon all of Oxford, North Carolina, Mozelle Owens, Stovall, North Carolina and Narbara Williams of Sedalia, North Carolina; his mother-in-law, Olivia bailey, Oxford, North Carolina; two sisters-in-law, Gwendolyn Bullock (William), Henderson, North Carolina and Sarah Bailey of Oxford, North Carolina; two brothers-in-law, Beasely Chandler of oxford, North carolina and Soloman Davis of Richmond, Virginia; twenty-three grandchildren; six great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, December 21 at 2:00 P.M. at Oak Grove Baptist Church by Rev. Dr. Charles bullock. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, December 20 from 11:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Wright Funeral Home.