Charles Cotton

Charles Douglas Cotton, better known to family and friends as “Doug”, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away on February 9, 2024, at the age of 82.  

He was born on March 26, 1941, to Walton and Eileen Cotton in Greenville, Kentucky. His family then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended school, elementary through high school. 

He developed a love for music at an early age and joined the Louisville Youth Orchestra where he learned to play the French horn. He continued playing the French horn as a member the college band while attending Georgetown Baptist College in Georgetown, Kentucky. It was there he met his bride-to-be, a fellow band member, Anne Cotton, who played the alto saxophone. 

After graduating college, he went on to work for Ford Motor Company as an accountant, starting out in Louisville then moving with the company to its Michigan headquarters where he eventually retired and moved to Nashville to be closer to family and away from Michigan winters. 

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing board games, cards, and watching sports – especially UK basketball and football. 

He was of the Baptist faith. He sang tenor in a gospel quartet and the church choir while in Michigan. He became a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville after retiring.  

He is preceded in death by his parents, Walton and Eileen Cotton, and daughter, Hollye (Cotton) Owen. 

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Anne Cotton, married for 61 years; daughter, Lisa (Cotton) Baker, son-in-law, Danny Baker, son-in-law, Jim Owen; grandchildren, Cole Barnes, Justin Owen, Jared Owen, Hayley Owen, Nicholas Baker; great-grandson, Cayson Barnes. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) in honor of Charles D. Cotton

Visitation will be Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 1:00pm - 3:00pm at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow on Saturday, March 2, and will begin at 3:00pm.