Murl Cobb

Essie Murl Cobb of Phenix City, AL, passed away at Canterbury Healthcare Facility on February 3, 2016 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Viewing will be on February 5th from 6p-8p at Vance Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held at Vance Memorial Chapel on February 6th at 11am with graveside service to follow at Lakeview Memory Gardens.

Mrs. Cobb was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Bessie Harrelson and a stepfather, Thomas Goodwin, her husband of 54 years George Felton Cobb, a brother, Jimmie Lee Harrelson, and her two sisters, Sara Nell Reed and Sybil Borque.

She is survived by her children Garry Cobb (Annie Kate), an adopted son Randy Cobb (Joyce), and a daughter Wendy Johnson. She is also survived by her grandchildren Darren (Meleisha), Daniel (Hope), Kyle Dubois, Hayley Johnson, and two step-grandchildren Allyson and Kathryn Barron. She also has three great grandchildren, Michela Cobb, Micah Cobb and Callie Rae Dubois, with several nieces and nephews.

She was born a sharecropper’s daughter to Joseph and Bessie Harrelson on October 31, 1928. She grew up during the Great Depression, survived a nearly fatal bout with appendicitis, and attended school through the 8th grade. She picked cotton as a child, and held a waitressing job in Alexander City before meeting her husband Felton. They were married on February 21, 1946.

Mrs. Cobb was a dedicated housewife and mother in the days when a husband worked and a wife stayed at home and raised the children. She was much more than that however. She was a seamstress, often sewing her own clothes on her Singer machine from the Simplicity patterns she bought. She was also an excellent gardener. If it was green, she could grow it, tending a large garden in our backyard where many of our fresh vegetables, watermelons, and even sugarcane were grown. She also took pride in her many varieties of azaleas and camellias around our house and driveway. We often had one of the most beautiful yards in the neighborhood come spring time due to her diligence and hard work.

During her marriage, she dispatched and kept the books for Felton’s business, Cobb Radio and T.V. Repair, which ran from the beginning of their marriage until Felton’s retirement in 1980.

In 1947 she had her first son Garry. Some years later, in 1962, Randy was adopted and in 1966 her only daughter Wendy was born. She stayed at home to raise all her children; she was a member of Homemaker’s classes at Girard Baptist.

She continued with the gardening until her later years when her health began to decline and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and eventually led to her placement at Magnolia Manor and finally Canterbury, where she passed away.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Canterbury and Columbus Hospice for the wonderful and expert care that they have provided over the years.

Online condolences may be made at vancememorialchapel.net.