Dr. Bennett Dixon Cotten Jr., M.D.

Dr. Bennett Dixon Cotten, Jr., M.D., 60, of Albany, died Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at Phoebe North Hospital. His funeral service will be at 2 PM on Friday, September 27, 2013 at First United Methodist Church with interment to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Don Adams will officiate. Pallbearers are: Michael Clark, Chip Stone, Ron Register, Will Reese, Lewis Webb, Fritz Turpin, Stacey Purdue, and Lewis Ledger. Honorary pallbearers are: Tom Hilsman, M.D., Dewitt Webb, Sam Strickland, M.D., Cullen Richardson, M.D., Tim Trulock, M.D., Chandler Berg, M.D., James Palazzolo, M.D., Price Corr, M.D., Wayne Holley, M.D., Duncan Marsh, M.D., Scott McGhee, M.D., Thomas Ungarino, M.D., Craig Mithchell, M.D., Usup Choi, M.D., Al Rakel, Asa Kelley, Walter Kelley, Britt Riles, Wayne Riles, Wil Campbell, PhD, and Jack Duren. A native and life-long resident of Albany, Dr. Cotten attended schools in Albany, and graduated from Albany High School in 1971. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1975, and from the Medical College of Georgia in 1979. Dr. Cotten completed his internship in general surgery at Greenville Hospital Systems, Greenville, SC, and he completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. He returned to Albany to begin his practice as an orthopedic surgeon in 1984, and continued his practice until his death. Dr. Cotten was Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. His medical memberships include the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, Dougherty County Medical Society, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Southern Orthopedic Association, James W. Harkess Society, Wilderness Medical Society, and the Georgia Orthopedic Society. Dr. Cotten volunteered as a team physician for high school sports teams in the area. He was selected as a team physician for the U.S. Olympic Team in 1996. He was one of the Founding Directors of Albany Bank and Trust. Dr. Cotten was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Albany. He was a former member of the Rotary Club and the Lions Club. Dr. Cotten is survived by his wife: Mary Linda Cotten, Albany; his 2 sons: Bennett Dixon Cotten, III and Bradford Howard Cotten, both of Albany; his brother: David Bates Cotten, Albany; his uncle: Kermit Henderson (DeLaine), Albany; his father-in-law: Dr. Howard J. Williams, Jr., Macon; his brother-in-law: Dr. Howard J. Williams, III, Atlanta; his sister-in-law: Carol Williams Greenbaum, Atlanta; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern on Thursday from 5:30-7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 307 Flint Ave., Albany, GA 31701.