Obituary of Joan D. Cottingham

Joan Delores Cooper Cottingham, affectionally known as “Mommy,” “Mom Mom”, and “Joanie Girl” departed this life peacefully at the age of 85 after an extended illness on November 15, 2022, at Inspira Hospital, in Vineland, NJ. She lived her entire adult life in Bridgeton, New Jersey, since the age of 18 years old. She was born on October 26, 1937, in Salem, New Jersey. Joan was the daughter and only child of the late Ernest Stark, formerly of Penns Grove, New Jersey, and Frances Thomas, formerly of Salem, New Jersey. She graduated from Salem High School. She attended Apex Beauty School to become a hairdresser and was previously employed at Hunt’s Foods Co. in Bridgeton, NJ. She also worked as an assistant in the Law Office of Roberta Cooper, in Bridgeton, NJ, and Tri-County Community Action Center where she worked as an aide in the day care. She loved to dance, sing, cook, and most of all she loved God and loved being a mother and grandmother. She played the piano (self-taught) and served as a youth choir director when growing up in Salem. She loved music. She was a member of Union Baptist Temple, in Bridgeton, NJ, and sang in the choir for years. Surviving are her children, two sons, Frank (“Frankie”) Cooper of Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Leonard (“Lenny”) Cooper of Bridgeton, NJ; three daughters, Roberta (“Bonnie”) Cooper of Atlanta, Georgia; Frances (“Sandy”) Williams of Bridgeton, NJ; and Ramona (“Mona”) Toney, of Woodbine, New Jersey. A daughter-in-law, Yvette Cooper and a son-in-law, Marvin (“Pete”) Toney, Jr. She also has 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Her legacy will endure forever. She was predeceased by her father, Ernest Stark, her mother, Frances Thomas, her sons, Sylvester Cooper and James E. Cooper, Jr; her husband, Roscoe Cottingham, and her close friend/sister-in-law Carolyn Floyd. Memorial services will be held at the PADGETT FUNERAL HOME, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Township on Saturday, December 3rd at 2:00 PM.