Jerry Vinson Cochran

Jerry Vinson Cochran of Lafayette, Louisiana (formerly of Slidell, LA and Natick, MA) fell asleep in our Lord on April 24, 2025, at home surrounded by loved ones after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 61 years, Jennie Christie Cochran. Jerry was the loving father of daughters Stephanie Cochran Treadaway (Randy) of Mandeville, Louisiana, Deb Cochran of Lafayette, Louisiana, Jennifer Cochran Wyrick (Jeff) of Edmond Oklahoma, and son, Christopher Cochran of Cathedral City, California. He was the proud and caring grandfather to grandchildren Lauren Gumerove (Treadaway) of Miami, Florida, Kaitlin Rosenthal (Treadaway) of Tampa, Florida, and Emerson Wyrick of Edmond, Oklahoma, as well as great grandfather to Brynn, Eden, and Olivia. Jerry was born in 1935 in Hickox, Georgia to the late Robert and Eulabelle Cochran. He was predeceased by his beloved sister Jacqueline Cochran Lavender. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Jerry graduated from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Georgia in 1953 and joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Army Security Agency at Bad Aibling Station in Germany. After a whirlwind courtship, Jerry married the love of his life, Jennie Christie, in the Albanian Orthodox Church in Natick, MA in 1956. The couple made their first home in Germany where Jerry continued to serve in the Army Security Agency. They moved to Natick, MA in 1958, where they resided until 1972. Jerry worked in the shipping and maritime industries, first with Yale Shipping and then in a long career with the international containerized shipping company Sea-Land Service. He also worked part-time for many years with Raider Furniture in Natick, MA. While living and working in Massachusetts, he attended night school  to earn his associate’s degree at Northeastern University in Boston. Following a job transfer to New Orleans, Jerry and his family moved to Slidell, Louisiana in 1972. He retired from Sea-Land in 1989. Jerry was an active volunteer for over 25 years at Slidell Memorial Hospital and the Regional Cancer Center and was an active member for many years in the Slidell Noon Lion’s Club and the VFW. He was a long-time member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans.  

Jerry moved to Lafayette, LA in 2023 to be closer to family and lived at The Vincent, a senior independent living community, where he made many new friends and embraced this next phase of his life. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

A wake and viewing will be held on Thursday May 1, 2025, at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., Natick, MA. from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services are Friday May 2, 2025, at Annunciation Albanian Orthodox Church, 37 Washington St., Natick, MA. at 10 a.m. A military burial will follow at Dell Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Jerry's favorite charities- the Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or the American Cancer Society. See links below:

Wounded Warrior Project: Donate | Wounded Warrior Project

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital: Donate | St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

The American Cancer Society: Donate | The American Cancer Society

For online guestbook & directions, please visit: www.everettfuneral.com

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