Mrs. Gertrude H. Cockerham was born to John and Bessie Hudson on September 4, 1920 in New Bern, NC. She lived in Winterville until the age of 10 and then moved to W-S, NC with her mother and stepfather, Wayne Shortt.

Upon completion of school in W-S, NC she attended Winston-Salem Teachers College. She taught school for 30 years in NC and received her masters at NYU during that time. She married Avery Phillip Cockerham in the mid 40's and gave birth to a son, Avery Cockerham, Jr. in 1947. They had their next child, Dwight Cockerham 13 years later.

Gertrude was a long standing member of Gospel Tabernacle Church in W-S, NC. She became an evangelist and assistant pastor at Tower of Power Church in Salisbury while residing there with her husband and youngest son from late 70's to early 90's. She returned to W-S, NC in the early 90's to care for her mother until her death in 1994. During that time Avery, Sr. came to live here in WS with her until his death in 1993. Gertrude remained a resident of W-S, NC until her death on December 7, 2015 at the age of 95.

Gertrude is survived by two sons, Avery (Lori) Cockerham, Jr. and Dwight (Tawana) Cockerham; two grandchildren, Austin and Sydni; and a host of many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Monday, December 14, 2015 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC. The family visitation will be held from 10:30am until 11:00am on Monday at the Chapel.