Shelton Lee Cothern

A celebration of life will be held for Shelton Lee Cothern at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Topeka Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Jayess Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at Topeka Baptist Church and will resume at 10 a.m. on Friday until time of service at the church. Riverwood Family is handling the arrangements.

Shelton Lee Cothern, 74, of Jayess, passed away on April 28 at Franklin County Memorial Hospital. He was born in Tylertown on June 9, 1951, to Otha M. Cothern and Willie Fae Brister Cothern.

Mr. Cothern was a member of Topeka Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He was also a Gideon.

Preceding him in death were his wife of 50 years, Paula Jean Leahey Cothern; his parents; brother, Robert Webb Cothern; and brother-in-law, Charles Greenlee.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Samuel Lee Cothern, and daughter-in-law, Lesa Turner Cothern; two grandchildren, Caleb Rutland (Karli) and Dalton Cothern; one great-grandchild, Easton Rutland; brothers, Tommy Cothern (Ann), Zack Cothern (Sue), Joel Cothern (Patsy), Richard Cothern (Darlene), and Jerry Cothern (Abby); and sister, Patricia Greenlee.

The family would like to thank the staff at Franklin County Memorial Hospital for their compassionate care.