Mrs. Rena Lee (Brooks) Cotton, age 78, of Bear Creek, NC, entered eternal rest on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at UNC Medical Center Hillsborough in Hillsborough, NC.

The Obituary

Rena Lee Brooks Cotton was born on March 18, 1947, in Pittsboro, North Carolina to the late Willie Green and K-ritha Brooks.

In 1965, Rena graduated from Horton High School. After high school, she worked for UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC and JOCCA in Pittsboro, NC. For the next 29 years, Rena was an employee of Chatham County Schools, holding multiple positions, including driving the school bus, working in the cafeteria and working as a custodian.

Rena joined Glovers Grove AME Zion Church at an early age where she served as a Deaconess, choir member and served on the kitchen committee and remained a devoted member throughout her life. Rena took great pride and joy in cooking. She loved cooking for her family, community and especially her grandchildren. There wasn’t a Sunday afternoon that anyone couldn’t stop by her home and enjoy a good meal, including her famous biscuits!

Rena will be cherished by her loving husband of 61 years, Rev. Walter A Cotton, Sr.; her children, K-ritha Brower, Turine Hicks (William), Rev. Walter A. Cotton, Jr. (Martisla), Warren Cotton (Angela), Tiffany Harrington (Adrian), Walter Goldston and Tiosha Goldston. One child that she kept and raised like her own, Stanley Watson. Her siblings, Darlene Jackson of Harrisburg, VA, Larry Brooks (Cynthia) of Bear Creek, NC, Gary Green (Andrea) of Holly Springs, Anita Green of Pittsboro and Tania Poston (Christopher) of Pittsboro. Her twenty-two grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Rena will also be cherished by the entire Glovers Grove AME Zion Church, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home-Pittsboro, NC