James Phillip Cothren

James Phillip Cothren (Butch) died peacefully on January 22, 2025, at St. Catherine's Village in Madison, Mississippi. Butch was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on July 21, 1941 to Dorothy Choate and Nolen Clyde Cothren, but the family soon moved to McComb, MS where Butch spent his childhood, graduating from McComb High School in 1959.
After graduation he attended the University of Mississippi where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He continued his education at the University of Mississippi Law school receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1967.
Butch began his legal career in Memphis in the legal department of Plough Inc but soon left Memphis for Jackson where he practiced law for more than 50 years. Butch discovered early in his practice that he loved civil trial practice and quickly became an outstanding attorney and a leader in the legal community. As a member of both the Mississippi and Tennessee Bars, Butch served as President of the Jackson Young Lawyers, President of Mississippi chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, President of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, and President of the Hinds County Bar Association.
In 1974 he accepted an interim Hinds County Circuit judgeship. Later, in 2001, as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Butch served as Chairman of the National Convention in Barcelona, Spain.
In 1968 Butch married Pat Talbot of Dublin, Mississippi, and they raised their family in Jackson. Soon after their marriage they began to travel which ignited a passion in Butch for exploring the world. The Cothren's trips to parts of the United States, to the cities and villages of Europe, South America and Asia were remarkable.
Butch's other passion was closer to home-Ole Miss football and baseball.
He and Pat built a second home in Oxford, attended games and created wonderful memories entertaining family and friends.
Butch lived fully and loved deeply. "Dad to his two children and "Pop"to his three grandchildren he was proud of his family, his daughter, Kent Kolb and her son James Bryan Kolb in Takoma Park Maryland, and his son James Phillip Cothren, Jr. and his wife Whitney and their two daughters Claire Elizabeth Cothren and Kate Talbot Cothren.
A longtime member of Galloway United Methodist Church in Jackson, Butch will be remembered for his courage in his battle against Parkinson's Disease. He fought the good fight, his race is won.
In addition to Pat, his children and grandchildren, Butch is survived by his brother Richard (Dickie) and his wife Jimmie Lou, Pat's brother Bill Talbot, a niece and several nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Galloway United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 27. The family will receive friends at 10:00 in the gathering area at Galloway.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the nurses and aids at Siena 2 at St Catherine's Village for their loving care of Butch.
Butch created two scholarships at Ole Miss: one in honor of his dear friend, Curtis Wilkie and another in memory of his friend and mentor Francis S. Bowling. The family asks that memorials to honor Butch be made to Curtis C. Wilkie Scholarship Endowment or the Francis S. Bowling Law Scholarship Endowment, 406 University Avenue, Oxford MS, 38655
Memorials can also be made to Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church, Mary Martha Guild, 305 North Congress Street, Jackson MS,
39201.