Obituary of Mrs. Anna Mae Cotton of Richland Parish Louisiana as published in the Monroe News Star, December 07, 2004 Submitted by for the USGenWeb Archives by Dot Golliher, 12/08/2004 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** * Anna Mae "Puddin" Cotton   Services for Anna Mae "Puddin" Cotton will be held in the Rayville United Methodist Church at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 8, 2004. Graveside services will follow in the Rayville Masonic Cemetery. Reverend Bob Townsend and Reverend Warren Blakeman will officiate under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home of Rayville. Born Anna Mae Allen on Sunday, October 28, 1906, the first of six children to Eva Harp Allen and Frank H. Allen, she came to be known to all as "Puddin". She died on December 3, 2004 at the Alzheimer's Residential Care Home (ARCH). For the last fifteen years of her life she lived in New Orleans. She met her husband of 63 years, W. D. Cotton, at LSU in Baton Rouge, where they graduated in 1927. When going to LSU football games, W.D. would refer to it as the ônew campus,ö but she always called it "the promised land." After first attending Normal State College in Natchitoches for two years, Puddin transferred to LSU and it felt to her like she had crossed over to "the land of milk and honey." Her home throughout their 63 years of marriage was Rayville, LA. There she worked side by side with her husband as he established his law firm. In her work, she was a voice of hospitality while also serving as legal secretary and notary public until W.D.'s death in 1989. Early on she became a vital part of community life and activities in Rayville. While she was treasurer of the Richland Parish Library Board, three libraries were built in the parish, largely from grants from the federal government. She often commented, "It was never such a joy to spend money!" In time she became President of the Library Board and was honored for her many years of service at her retirement. In 1973, the Louisiana Library Association presented her with the Modisette Award as a Citation of Merit from the Trustees. Other activities in the community included being a charter member and past President of the Rayville Literary Club, State Chairperson of the Junior Literary Clubs, and the Louisiana Federation of WomenÆs Clubs. She was especially fond of her work with the American Legion Auxiliary in their efforts to send students from Richland Parish to Girls' State and Boys' State. In 1980 she was named "Woman of the Year" of the Rayville United Methodist Church. She was recognized for her efforts in organizing the Chancel Choir as well as the ChildrenÆs Choir. Through the years she taught many of the studies of the Wesleyan Service Guild, which later became known as United Methodist Women. For more that 30 years she created the weekly worship centers for the narthex of the church, which featured the theme of the sermon and the worship service. Besides her husband W. D. Cotton, Puddin is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and a brother. Survivors include her daughters, Carole Cotton Winn and husband John Winn of Slidell, LA; Jean Cotton of Monroe, LA; and son Stephen Cotton of Memphis, TN; one sister Virgie Hernandez of Baton Rouge, LA; and four grandchildren, Lane Cotton Winn, Stewart Cararas, Jr., Shaine Cararas and Matthew Cotton. Carol Winn Crawford and Dan Winn of New Orleans, LA, John Arthur Winn of St. Louis, MO, and Mark Winn of Washington, DC and their families also celebrate her life and mourn her death. Pallbearers will be William "Bill" Avery, Robert W. Calvert, Jr., A. C. Clark, III, Walter Cochran, Pete Mulhern, Jr., and Judge Glynn Roberts. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Rayville United Methodist Church, 905 Louisa Street, Rayville, Louisiana 71269.