Shirley Gray Cotten

Shirley Stephenson Cotten passed away peacefully at her home on February 5, 2025. She was born January 22, 1935 in the Cleveland Community of Johnston County.

She is lovingly remembered by her two sons, Danny Cotten and Michael Cotten & his wife Lisa, her three grandchildren, Matthew Cotten & his wife Sima, Claudia Calo and husband Elisha and John Cotten and his wife Michaela. Along with eight great grand children, Micheal Cotten, Isaac Cotten, Barrett Cotten, Annabelle Calo, Sophia Calo, Caroline Calo, Josiah Calo and Leander Cotten. She is survived by her Baby Brother Judd Stephenson of Raleigh.

She is proceeded in death by husband, Jay Cotten, her parents Ben and Rena Stephenson, her sister Jean Flowers.

Shirley was a seamstress by trade for most of her adult life. She worked for Blue Bell Manufacturing in Angier as supervisor over the sewing production line. She was married to Jay Cotten who was the police chief in Angier for many years.

Shirley enjoy sewing and creating beautiful treasures of clothing, quilts, curtains, alterations and baby dolls. She also enjoyed creating beautiful needlepoint pieces. She freely gave her time to teaching others how to quilt. When she wasn't sewing she could be found in her kitchen cooking delicious home made meals and desserts from scratch. She loved entertaining her family and often talked about the plans she had for the next years meal.

In her latter years, as dementia took her ability to create, cook or take care of herself she was able to enjoy being in the safety of her home that she loved so much. Her oldest son, Danny, lives in the home with her and made sure she had everything that she needed. Family often joked with them that they were more like an old married couple instead of mother and son.

She was a member of Angier Baptist church.

Her family will receive friends from 1:00 to 1:45 pm Monday, February 10, 2025 in the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home Angier, 300 E. McIver St. Angier, NC 27501.

Her funeral service will be at 2:00 pm Monday, February 10, 2025 in the Chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home with burial to follow in Angier Memorial Cemetery.

A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home - Angier