Andrew Coley Cockerham

FORT WORTH - Andrew Coley Cockerham, Jr. (A.C.) was born February 10, 1933, in Elkin, North Carolina, to Coley and Virginia Cockerham. The youngest of three children, his early life quickly became centered around values that defined his entire life: work, church, and family.
A.C.'s work career began in his early teenage years, when he delivered newspapers from his bike. He assisted his father in repairing appliances and worked at an electrical company, which spurred his interest in electrical gadgets and a career in engineering. Yet even while working after school hours, he found time to play saxophone in the high school band, perform in the senior class drama, and take a leadership role in his church youth group.
After high school graduation, A.C. married his sweetheart, Reba Mae Johnson, and together they started a new adventure at John Brown University in Arkansas. He worked as engineer/announcer on the campus radio station while earning a degree in electrical engineering. After graduation, the couple returned to North Carolina, where sons, Craig and Ken were born.
A.C. was certified as a registered professional engineer and soon began a 36-year career with Virginia Electric Power Company. As his skills grew, he became a lead engineer in designing large electrical substations. His cutting-edge design work for the Surry Nuclear Power Plant further developed his expertise, and he was instrumental in defining the industry standards for large electrical transformers.
Even while moving ahead in his career, A.C. kept church and family as his priorities. He took leadership roles as church deacon, Sunday School director, and chair of the church building committee. He also volunteered for service opportunities, driving the church bus on multiple youth trips and hosting and chaperoning youth camps and fellowships.
A.C. was devoted to his family, and in his later years often commented how God had blessed him with two wonderful sons and their families. He and Reba loved to travel with their family and vacationed with grandchildren across the country, from Canada and the New England states to Yellowstone and Colorado.
When he retired, he designed and built a house near his family in the North Carolina mountains. He and Reba lived in their mountain home during the warm summer months and near family in Texas in the winter. Eventually they left the mountains and settled in Texas. Soon after he and Reba celebrated their 54th anniversary, she entered life eternal.
A.C. was greatly blessed the last sixteen years of his life to be remarried to a caring, compassionate partner, Shirley Brown Barfield, who herself was widowed after a long marriage. A.C. and Shirley enjoyed traveling together to visit his family in North Carolina. They ministered as dedicated mentors to refugee families, and "adopted" the seven members of the Moo family as their own. Throughout their marriage, A.C. and Shirley supported family and friends by sharing their time, encouragement, and practical help.
Andrew Coley Cockerham had a servant's heart and spent his life giving of himself. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who prioritized his family, church, and work. A.C. understood the importance of being present for others and gave his time and talents to support his family and others in need. He will be dearly missed by his family and those who knew him.
Memorial service: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Arborlawn United Methodist Church
Graveside service: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Greenwood Memorial Park, 3100 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth.
Visitation: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Greenwood Funeral Home, 3344 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth.