Marie Hardison Cothran White

Mrs. Marie Hardison Cothran White, 88, long-time resident of Old Williamsport Pike, died Friday, July 20, 2007 at Maury Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Pete Tackett and Rev. Billy Kimbrough officiating. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Pike, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Evan Hardison and Pauline Jones Hardison. In October, 1936, she married Kernie H. Cothran. In addition to homemaking, she assisted him in operation of Cothran Well-Drilling. Their union spanned 48 years until his death August 4, 1985. Her homemaking, cooking, canning, and gardening skills were well-known. She was especially known for candy-making and would often welcome those wanting to learn the art to her kitchen for lessons. She later married Hugh Douglas White, Sr. who died October 19, 1994.She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, K. B. (Tricia) Cothran; two daughters, Gayle Cothran Mabry of Columbia and Linda Cothran Watkins Griffin of Shelbyville; a sister, Juanita (Will Frank) Woody of Columbia; two brothers, Clint (Jane) Fitzgerald of Columbia and John W. (Jo Ann) Fitzgerald of Hermitage; grandchildren, Todd Mabry, Grayson Mabry, Brad Watkins, Julie Prater, Ann Marie Cothran Schulz, Kernie Benson Cothran; great-grandchildren, Zachary Mabry, Anna Watkins, Colton Prater, and Ashley Prater; two step-daughters, Reecie Lee Goodwin of Jackson, Mississippi and Phyllis Jean White of Columbia; a step-son, Hugh D. (Elizabeth) White, Jr. of Columbia; four step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Lilli Mae Fitzgerald, Lela Holcomb, and Janie Rittenberry; and two brothers, Howard Fitzgerald and Thomas Fitzgerald. Pallbearers are Todd Mabry, Brad Watkins, Benson Cothran, Wesley Prater, Frank Woody, Douglas Woody, Carl Woody, and Matt Schulz. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. William Robinson, Dr. Moataz Toban, Dr. Janice Vinson, Marvin Escue, Ernest Black, Rev. Argine Hughes, and employees and business associates of Cothran Well-Drilling.