Hillary Cotton

“What about Bob?” Who is Bob? We don’t know Bob but what about that darn Mook? Yeah we know that guy, HILLARY COTTON (SR.) Hillary was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on Thursday, November 22, 1951 which was Thanksgiving Day in 1951. He was the 5th child and 3rd son born to Ethel Mae Miller Cotton and George Aron Cotton, Jr. All of the previous children were born in the ancestral home with a mid-wife but this one seemed different. The boy was reluctant to “do the right thing” and elected to come breech (feet first) (he was probably playing with some sort of car even then!) No one knew how he got the nickname Mook perhaps it was because he was born on a Thursday, in Japanese Thursday is “Mokuyobi” and there were some Japanese war Vets in the family. Mook was a beautiful baby and the cutest little boy growing up with tiny white teeth and a quick grin and an even quicker cry! We absolutely loved and adored our baby brother although he was challenging. He always put his shoes on the wrong feet and once Mother made him stay in the house until he finally learned to tie his shoes. (Sandra said he was 10 before he learned!) I personally think he was to slow learn because he was too busy making cars out of anything he could find; match sticks, other broken toy cars, kitchen utensils, even our doll baby body parts. Hillary attended Baltimore City public schools and graduated from a Work-Study Vocational High School in 1969. Upon graduation he joined the United States Army completed basic training and served in the Vietnam War as did his older brother Joseph before him. Mook was a flag waving (American flag and POW MIA) proud veteran. For a brief period all three brothers (Cornell) served in the Army at the same time. He emotionally shared his “left behind” war story and both Vets proudly wear their caps. In our youth when our Mother remarried, God blessed us with another loving father, Claude Mayo. Pop was a patient, kind, and unfailing provider. In his later years he rightfully earned the title of the “King of Duct Tape.” He never threw away anything, kitchen knives, tools, bedroom slippers, duct tape! If something was broken, fix it with duct tape! We think Mook got the bug, not with duct tape but with “paint” green paint was his poison. Mook painted everything green. If you were standing beside him while he was painting, you would get painted too! Mook’s love for “playing with cars” never left him in combination with the green paint a disaster was waiting to happen. His passion was cars, scooters and motor cycles. He was constantly buying them (from a 1937 Buick to a Hummer) and “fixing them up” you couldn’t say “restoring” them because he used all types of parts to keep them running but it was the painting that was the real zinger! Rims, lights, interior, green paint! Every vehicle he affixed a name, “My Girl”, “Quiet Storm”, “Tears of a Clown”, “Joker”. No car was safe from Mook’s mighty hand and except one due to his “You’re not my mother” sister and that was the Mercedes Benz. Mook was a cartoon character always saying zany things and sending crazy animal videos via facebook that would make you laugh till you cried. He was a nut and we loved him! Picture this black guy, blasting Elvis Presley music in a Hummer! Mook “STOP” we would scream! He was so friendly we would go “antiquing” and he would be warned not to talk too much and tell all his business. Well as soon as he got in the stores not only did he tell all of his business but all of mine as well! Mook was equally giving, kindhearted and a born leader, organizing many charitable events and the Hot Rod Alley annual haunted house for children in the community. He helped everyone in need of financial assistance or a word of advice or encouragement. There was nothing he would not do for his family or a friend. Tommy Guthrie was and is Mook’s closest friend and they have been friends for most of their adult life. Hillary had three children of his own, Chastity Cotton and Hillary Aaron Cotton, Jr. from his marriage to Angela Gross Cotton and Kenta Jermaine Cotton, deceased (mother, Lucille Blackmon) and one granddaughter, Sydni Thornton. He was a father and grandfather figure to several other children as well. Hillary “Mook” Cotton (Sr.) leaves to cherish his memory: Monica Watts (fiancée), Chastity Cotton (daughter), Hillary Aaron Cotton. Jr. (son), Sydni Thornton (granddaughter), Joseph Cotton Miller & Faye Miller, Sandra Day, Delores Moore, Cornell Cotton, Vernita Cotton and Ophelia Satterfield (siblings), little Xavier Adrian Boston, Tommy Guthrie (best friend), those who considered him a father, Hilda Perry and Cecilia Miller (aunts), Hillary A. Cotton, Sr. (uncle), numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.

Tributes

Hillary Cotton

November 22, 1951 - May 13, 2019