Roger Cockrell

WILSON - Roger Hornsby Cockrell, 83, of 5008 Pebble Beach Circle, died March 5, 2012, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center, Goldsboro.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, March 8, 11 AM, Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Drive N, conducted by Dr. Thomas Watkins. A time of visiting and sharing will follow. Inurnment will be in Forest Hills Cemetery in Nashville.

He was born in Nash County, the son of the late Frances Vanhook Cockrell and Willis Edgar Cockrell. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Robert Willis Cockrell, and a brother, Willis Edgar Cockrell, Jr.

Mr. Cockrell attended Nashville High School and Oak Ridge Military Institute before entering the University of North Carolina where he graduated in 1949 with a BS in Commerce. He served in the USAF during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954.

After working for the Wilson Times for many years, he was employed by North Hills, Inc. of Raleigh and later the Mace Rich Company of Santa Monica, CA as a shopping center executive.

Surviving is his wife of 60 years, Rita Hussey Cockrell; son, Steven Mercer Cockrell and wife, Lynn, of Raleigh; grandchildren Gregory, Bradley, Jennifer, Will, Kelly and Sara; a sister, Louise Calliflower of Henderson.

The family request any donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 3184, Wilson NC 27895 and to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Ct, Goldsboro NC 27534.