Tracy Thomas Cottingham, Jr.

Tracy Thomas Cottingham, Jr., of Fayetteville, NC, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 91, on Friday,  January 4, 2013.  His granddaughter, Hellen Mullins, was with him.

Tracy's family and friends will remember him as one of the hardest working people they have known and also as someone who was always upbeat and positive about life.  He was outgoing, friendly, loved being with people, always treated everyone well, and never had a bad thing to say about anyone.  Tracy spent most of his working life as a milkman for Sycamore Dairy and delivered milk to most of the homes in Fayetteville at one time or another for more than 30 years. His customers loved him.  Each of his children remembers the summers they rode with him in the milk truck helping him deliver milk and cherished these special times with him.

Tracy was born in Dillon, SC, on December 29, 1921, the son of Tracy Thomas Cottingham and Amelia Baggett Cottingham. He was the youngest of nine children, all of whom predeceased him. His sister, Gertrude, passed away just five days before him.  Tracy served in the Army in WWII. After the war, he met and married Lucy Frances Godwin, in Fayetteville, where his family had moved. They were married for 48 years before her death in 1994.

Tracy is survived by his children:  T. Thomas Cottingham, III and his wife Jeanie of Charlotte, NC; Susan Faye Williams and her husband John of Bakersfield, CA; Patricia Reynolds and her husband Clyde of Gaston, OR; Roy Godwin Cottingham and his wife Rose of Fayetteville; and Robin Smith and her husband Neal of Orlando, FL. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren  and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Sullivan's Highland Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 8, from 7:00 until 9:00 pm.  Graveside services will held at Cross Creek Cemetery on Wednesday, January 9, at 11:00 am. Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, NC.