Jo Allene "Bootsie" Cottongim, 83, of Tifton passed away peacefully May 14, 2016, at her home in Tifton, after a prolonged illness. A celebration of her life and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Tifton's First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception in the church social hall immediately following the service.
Born March 19, 1933 in Tifton, Bootsie was the daughter of the late Joe Kent, Jr. and Allene Mitchell Kent. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Richard Cottongim, who passed away in 2012; and a brother, Joe Kent, III.
As a child, Bootsie loved horseback riding, owned a horse and rode daily. She was a cheerleader throughout high school and was involved with many extra-curricular activities. She graduated from Tift County High School and attended Wesleyan College in Macon.
In 1950, Bootsie married Henry Richard Cottongim. She and Richard owned and operated Cottongim Heating and Cooling for 50 years. Together they founded the Beacon Sunday school class at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church in 1956, where she was a member. Bootsie’s love of animals led her to help form and become president of the Tiftarea Humane Society in 1981. She was a lifelong animal lover, fostered numerous animals and found them permanent homes and was a “hands on” animal rights advocate.
She was also the secretary for Camp Tygart in the 1990s. She assisted with the “At Home Welcome Team” at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church, the Methodist Youth Fellowship, was a long-standing member of the Chancel Choir, member of the Kitchen Band and helped deliver Meals on Wheels.
Bootsie is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Valerie and Jerry Hughes of Tifton and Cheryl and the Rev. David Lord of Virginia; three grandchildren and their spouses, Tiffany and Colt Anderson, Heidi Rebecca Forehand and Mitchell David Lord; two great-grandchildren, Jason Kent Anderson and Amber Breanne Anderson; a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Kenneth Kent and Carolyn Ewels of Potomac, Maryland; several nieces and nephews; and her two dogs, Maxie and Mikey.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church Choir in Tifton, 107 West 12 Street, Tifton, GA 31794; or Hospice of Tift Area, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793.