Judith Lee Cottrell

Judith Lee Cottrell, 79, of Cornelia Street, died Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Hinkle Hospice House.  A memorial service will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Matthew Miller officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service.  Mrs. Cottrell was born January 11, 1938, in Detroit, MI, to Leland Eugene and Mary Elizabeth Gibson Cottrell. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree cumlaude in 1960 and the Masters of Arts degree in 1969 from Wake Forest University. She did post-graduate studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. Her professional life was devoted to the field of education, having served as an elementary and high school teacher and a college counselor and administrator. Ms. Cottrell was active in her community and her church, having served in leadership roles in the Lexington Woman’s Club and First Lutheran Church. She also held numerous leadership positions in the many professional organizations of which she was a member. After her retirement from Davidson County Community College, as long as her health permitted, Ms. Cotrell devoted her time to the service of her church, volunteering at Lexington Memorial Hospital and enjoying her granddaughters. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon Cottrell Gallimore; and a brother, Alan Jack Cottrell.  She is survived by her most beloved son, William Richard Minkley Jr. (Melissa); daughter by marriage, Trixie Jane Minkley; and her beloved granddaughters, Savannah Nicole and Jasmine Lee Minkley, Kyndin Dawn Minkley and Hannah Taylor.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, PO Box 308, Lexington, NC 27293.