Lucille Sims Cochran

Faith, Family and Friends defined the life of Lucille Sims Cochran, 98, who passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2015. She was born July 27,1917 in Ashdown, Arkansas to Henry Augustus Sims and Beatrice Turner Sims. She lived most of her life in Texarkana and was a graduate of high school there. In 1938 she married Virgil Roberson Cochran, her lifelong love, and they were together for 69 years. They were members of ‘the greatest generation,' who grew up and lived through the deprivations of the Great Depression, remained hopeful during Virgil's three years of service in the South Pacific with the Army Air Corps, and then built life anew following the war. She was a long and active member of Beech Street First Baptist Church in Texarkana where she served for 11 years as the Pastor's secretary. In 1946 she and Virgil became the parents of their only daughter, Donna Kay Cochran McLarty. Lucille was active in Girl Scouts, PTA, and many other school and church activities. She was an exceptional mother and a role model to Donna and her friends. During her career she also served as the secretary to the Texarkana Postmaster and worked in the U.S. Forest Service. For five years Lucille and Virgil lived in Hot Springs where they were active members of the First Baptist Church. For the past 10 years she was a resident of Parkway Village in Little Rock where she also became an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church. In Texarkana she and Virgil were regular members of a couples' bridge club, and Lucille continued to enjoy bridge during her 10 years at Parkway Village which she considered a wonderful and caring retirement community. She was devoted to her family and loved traveling to Little Rock for school and sports activities of her grandsons and great-granddaughter; and loved experiencing trips to Washington, DC to join her family to visit the World War II Memorial, attend concerts at the Kennedy Center and many other special events. Lucille lived a joyful and fulfilled life for almost a century and gave back so much love to her family, church and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Donna, and husband Mack McLarty; grandsons, Mark Cochran McLarty and Franklin Hesterly McLarty and his wife Gabriela; great-granddaughter, Brianna Teresa McLarty; niece, Carolyn Thrash; and nephew, Bobby Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Virgil; three sisters: Rags Woods and husband Millard, Virginia Brown and husband Harrold, and Beatrice Bass and husband Edwin; her brother, Henry Sims and his wife Joan; niece, Virginia Lou Mitchell; and nephew, Stuart Sims. The family wishes to express special thanks and deep appreciation to Val Pitts and Caregivers: Mary Hurley, Sarah Lavendusky, Judy McCarey, Elsie Moore, Cheryl Musticchi and Sherry Plain for their love, care, support and friendship. A Little Rock visitation will be today, Wednesday, October 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Roller Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211, (501) 224-8300. Funeral Services will be Thursday, October 8 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock. Burial Services will follow at 4 p.m. at the East Memorial Gardens in Texarkana, Ark. Memorials may be sent to: Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72211 or to Beech Street First Baptist Church, 601 Beech Street, Texarkana, Ark. 71854. Her online guestbook may be signed at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.