Rev. James Cotman, Jr.

James DeWitt Cotman, Jr., 51, better known as “Rudy” was born on February 26, 1959 to Bertha Cotman and the late James DeWitt Cotman, Sr. He was the oldest of six children. He is preceded in death by his sister Juanita “Fuji” Cotman. Rudy was born and raised in Charles City, VA where he spent most of his life as a youth and received his formal education. He later became a resident of Richmond, VA where he worked at Henrico County Public Schools as Maintenance Supervisor for 27 years. While working for HCPS, he met the love of his life, Diane Terry. They married on August 5, 1995. Rudy accepted Christ at an early and later rededicated his life back to Christ and was called to preach and licensed on April 11, 1999. He was a member of Mt. Gilead Full Gospel International Ministries for the past seven years, where he served on the Substance Abuse Ministry. He was an avid Bible reader who frequently rose early in the morning to begin his personal devotions and was quick to share his revelations, visions and testimonies with his family and others. Rudy was truly a man with great wisdom and didn’t mind sharing it with anyone he came in contact with. His greatest passion was ministering to unsaved souls and helping others overcome addictions. Rudy loved his family and was truly a “Mama’s Boy.” He loved to attend family gatherings so he could do his two favorite things, talk about Jesus and eat! He was charming, well dressed, had a heart of gold, an incredible zest for life and was never one to bite his tongue when it came to giving you a word from the Lord. Rudy leaves to cherish his memory a loving wife, Diane Cotman; three devoted daughters, Sheena Tyler, Ainsley Terry and Jamie Cotman; two granddaughters (Papa’s Little Angels), Anadia Tyler and Chrishiya Howard; a loving mother, Bertha Cotman; two sisters, Althea Washington and a devoted sister, Paula Cotman; two brothers, Alonzo Cotman (Jenine) and Gregory Cotman (Tanya); a mother and father-in-law, Benjamin and Louise Cole; five sisters-in-law, Patricia Gault-Coles, Barbara Simms, Betty Allen, Annette Terry, and Rev. Mary Crossin (Timothy, Sr.); eight aunts; eight uncles; three great-aunts; two great-uncles; a devoted friend, Michael Ruffin; one God-son, Ja’Jon Cary, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Rev. James Cotman, Jr.

February 25, 1959 - January 26, 2011