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In Memory Of
Mary Leesa Stutts Cothran
Mrs. Mary Leesa Stutts Cothran, age 62, beloved citizen of Franklin and Carrollton, passed away Friday January 18, 2019 after a valiant battle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday January 20, 2019 at 3:00 PM from Franklin First Baptist Church with the Revs. Andrew Owensby and Neil Awbrey officiating. Her body will lie in state at the church from 2:30 PM until the funeral hour. Interment will follow the service in Heard County Memorial Gardens.
The family will accept guests at Stutts Funeral Home Saturday evening from 4:00 – 5:00 PM and 6:00 – 8:00 PM.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday January 20, 2019 at 3:00 PM from Franklin First Baptist Church with the Revs. Andrew Owensby and Neil Awbrey officiating. Her body will lie in state at the church from 2:30 PM until the funeral hour. Interment will follow the service in Heard County Memorial Gardens.
The family will accept guests at Stutts Funeral Home Saturday evening from 4:00 – 5:00 PM and 6:00 – 8:00 PM.
Mrs. Cothran was born August 5, 1956 in Franklin to the late Thomas Lawton Stutts and Doris Esther Carter Stutts.
From a very early age Leesa loved to sing, but, unfortunately, could not carry a tune. When she was two she had her tonsils removed. When she was seven they grew back in the form of a para tonsil cyst. When her surgery healed she had an adult classical voice. She always said God heard the desire of her heart and gave it to her in the form of a miracle.
She sang countless solos through the years in each church she attended as her family moved. She also served many stints as the choir director for her church, most recently for Franklin First Baptist Church. She felt that sharing her love for the Lord Jesus Christ was her most important mission in life.
Her gift of music gave her many opportunities and awards. She won her first talent show at the age of eight. One of her first singing jobs was as a cast member of the Crystal Pistol Show at Six Flags Amusement Park. She sang in concert halls and venues all over the world and performed for kings and queens.
She received many honors for her singing, but was most surprised when the Chief of Chaplains at the Department of Defense presented her with the Meritorious Service Award for her contribution of music to the men and women of our armed forces.
For several years she organized and directed the music program for the Chattahoochee Independence Day Celebration. Thousands of Heard Countians were delighted to hear the program each year. Leesa always made sure that the focus of the program was to honor the Lord (from whom we derive our freedom) and our brave men and women in uniform (who defend that freedom). The climax of the program was Leesa’s rendition of Sandi Patty’s version of “God Bless America” just prior to the fireworks show.
In addition to her mission work through music, Leesa touched many lives as a Family Relations Director for her family’s business, Stutts Funeral Home. She sang solos, played the piano, arranged flowers, comforted families, and in later years worked in the business office. Her service gave comfort to hurting families in their time of greatest need. She built lasting friendships with the ladies and gentlemen who assisted the Stutts Family with their service to the community.
Leesa especially loved her family, and was so very proud of her children, nieces, and nephews. Being able to see her grandchildren gave her the most joy!
Leesa fought through her final days with strength and determination. She would not have been able to persevere without the help of many of her closest friends. She lovingly referred to them as her “Angel of Mercy Care Givers”. For these families and many others the Cothran Family is eternally grateful for the time and resources they gave for Leesa.
Survivors include: her loving husband, Bobby Cothran of Carrollton; one daughter and son-in-law, Whitney and Casey Smith of Carrollton; one son and daughter-in-law, John Robert and Caroline Cothran of South Carolina; four grandchildren: Emma Cothran, Cannon Smith, Carlee Cothran, and Harper Cothran; two brothers: Tommy Stutts and Joseph Bledsoe (Gina) both of Franklin; mother-in-law, Naomi Rikard Cothran of South Carolina; sisters-in-law: Margaret Cothran Roberts (Frank) and Susan Cothran Tucker (Chip) both of South Carolina; nieces and nephews: Elizabeth Gilbert (Jeremy), Katy Stutts, Hannah Bledsoe, Andrew Bledsoe, Sara Beth Bledsoe, John Bledsoe, Jessica Beccera (Jesse), Anna Bonk (Matt), Jennifer Lott (Rev. Kevin), and Ryan Tucker (Keara); and a number of other relatives and friends.
From a very early age Leesa loved to sing, but, unfortunately, could not carry a tune. When she was two she had her tonsils removed. When she was seven they grew back in the form of a para tonsil cyst. When her surgery healed she had an adult classical voice. She always said God heard the desire of her heart and gave it to her in the form of a miracle.
She sang countless solos through the years in each church she attended as her family moved. She also served many stints as the choir director for her church, most recently for Franklin First Baptist Church. She felt that sharing her love for the Lord Jesus Christ was her most important mission in life.
Her gift of music gave her many opportunities and awards. She won her first talent show at the age of eight. One of her first singing jobs was as a cast member of the Crystal Pistol Show at Six Flags Amusement Park. She sang in concert halls and venues all over the world and performed for kings and queens.
She received many honors for her singing, but was most surprised when the Chief of Chaplains at the Department of Defense presented her with the Meritorious Service Award for her contribution of music to the men and women of our armed forces.
For several years she organized and directed the music program for the Chattahoochee Independence Day Celebration. Thousands of Heard Countians were delighted to hear the program each year. Leesa always made sure that the focus of the program was to honor the Lord (from whom we derive our freedom) and our brave men and women in uniform (who defend that freedom). The climax of the program was Leesa’s rendition of Sandi Patty’s version of “God Bless America” just prior to the fireworks show.
In addition to her mission work through music, Leesa touched many lives as a Family Relations Director for her family’s business, Stutts Funeral Home. She sang solos, played the piano, arranged flowers, comforted families, and in later years worked in the business office. Her service gave comfort to hurting families in their time of greatest need. She built lasting friendships with the ladies and gentlemen who assisted the Stutts Family with their service to the community.
Leesa especially loved her family, and was so very proud of her children, nieces, and nephews. Being able to see her grandchildren gave her the most joy!
Leesa fought through her final days with strength and determination. She would not have been able to persevere without the help of many of her closest friends. She lovingly referred to them as her “Angel of Mercy Care Givers”. For these families and many others the Cothran Family is eternally grateful for the time and resources they gave for Leesa.
Survivors include: her loving husband, Bobby Cothran of Carrollton; one daughter and son-in-law, Whitney and Casey Smith of Carrollton; one son and daughter-in-law, John Robert and Caroline Cothran of South Carolina; four grandchildren: Emma Cothran, Cannon Smith, Carlee Cothran, and Harper Cothran; two brothers: Tommy Stutts and Joseph Bledsoe (Gina) both of Franklin; mother-in-law, Naomi Rikard Cothran of South Carolina; sisters-in-law: Margaret Cothran Roberts (Frank) and Susan Cothran Tucker (Chip) both of South Carolina; nieces and nephews: Elizabeth Gilbert (Jeremy), Katy Stutts, Hannah Bledsoe, Andrew Bledsoe, Sara Beth Bledsoe, John Bledsoe, Jessica Beccera (Jesse), Anna Bonk (Matt), Jennifer Lott (Rev. Kevin), and Ryan Tucker (Keara); and a number of other relatives and friends.
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Leesa Will be forever missed!
Leesa was loved and respected by so many . Leesa is a angel and will be missed by so many . She is a beautiful person inside and out . My condolences to you , Tommy and Bobby and the entire Stutts and Cothran family . Lisa Perry
Please accept my deepest condolences. Sincerely, Loraine Crenshaw (Wellstar West Georgia Hospice)
Ms. Leesa, I know you are singing now with the angels in Heaven. Your voice was magic. Such a beautiful and loving person and I always enjoyed seeing you and hearing you sing at Franklin First Baptist. God bless you as he blessed us with you. Lorie Nelson
