Emelyn Cothren West, 77, of Alma, Georgia, passed away on March 14, 2026, at Southeast Georgia Health System after a short illness. Born on October 25, 1948, in Appling County to Purdy and Carrie Mobley Cothren, she grew up in a large, loving family whose bonds shaped her life. Emelyn faced the loss of her parents, her husband Jackie West, her son Michael West, and several siblings—Howard, Lamon, Linton, Leland, Eston, Bonnie Taylor, Juanita Taylor, and Eloise Cothren—with strength, faith, and grace. Her life was marked by resilience and a deep devotion to those she loved.
Emelyn was a woman whose heart was rooted in family. She is survived by her daughter Stephanie (Terry) Starnes of Brunswick, her brother James (Willene) Cothren of Brunswick, and her sisters Marie (Ronnie) Boatright of Alma and Freda Cooper of Alma. She was blessed with six grandchildren and two great‑grandchildren, each of whom brought her joy and pride. Her home was a place of welcome, warmth, and comfort, where family gathered often and where Emelyn’s presence was a steady source of love and encouragement.
She lived a life shaped by simple pleasures, strong values, and deep connections. Emelyn cherished time spent with her family, and she carried forward the traditions and stories of the Cothren family with pride. Her kindness, her gentle humor, and her unwavering love for those around her made her someone people naturally gravitated toward. She will be remembered for her quiet strength, her compassion, and the way she made others feel cared for.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Crosby Funeral Home, with Rev. Tommy Whaley and Rev. Owen Atha officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 18, from 6–8 PM at the funeral home. Active pallbearers include Raymond Cooper, Brayden West, Dalton Boatright, Landon Boatright, Roger Kiser, Hunter Toler, Spencer Toler, and Scotty Boatright, with all in attendance considered honorary pallbearers.
Emelyn’s family and friends will gather to honor a woman whose life was defined by love, resilience, and devotion. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her, carried forward in the generations she nurtured and the lives she touched.