CORTEZ COGGINS

Cortez Terrell Coggins, ""Tez"", 31 of 4300 Butler Lane South Chesterfield, VA departed this life suddenly on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at MCV, VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA.

He was born February 5, 1990, in Petersburg, VA. Cortez was an honor graduate of the Matoaca High School class of 2008.

Cortez was a true creative at heart and had a brilliant mind. His mother often referred to him as a genius. He had many nicknames which were based upon which stage, age, or facet of his life you were connected with. To the family, he was simply ""Tez"" or ""Cake Man"" because as a child he loved his grandmother's homemade cakes and he was most recently nicknamed ""Baby Boy"" by his sister. Cortez began rapping and producing at a very young age and to those from his neighborhood music label/group ""Money Fold"", he was known as ""T-Bit"". He was a licensed tattoo artist and more recently started to be referred to as TatManTez.

Cortez was successful in every aspect of his life. He was extremely intelligent and earned a full academic scholarship to Virginia State University. He lived outside of the box and marched to the beat of his own drum. He went on to accomplish many things, including, but not limited to obtaining his Associate's degree from John Tyler Community College where he double-majored in General Education and Liberal Arts as well as obtaining his Commercial Driver's License (CDL).

He was determined to make a name for himself independently and that he did. He had become well known all over the country and even in some other countries for his self-produced, self-written music and viral music covers on social media. He was laser-focused on becoming successful and can be quoted as saying, ""They worried about having fun, I'm worried about having funds"".

Cortez was preceded in death by his great-grandparents Gilbert and Mary P Drumgoole and Elnora Harrison, grandfather Charles Henry Harrison ""Beefsteak"", great uncle Joseph Drumgoole, cousin Terneil Rhodes and devoted friends Amara ""Danta"" Barnes and Marcellus ""Juicy"" Crittendon.

Left to cherish his memories are his mother and step-father, Alisa Coggins and Darryl Mason of Petersburg, VA; his grandmother, Louise Coggins of the residence; sister, Tiffany Coggins of Petersburg; three aunts, Vanessa Thomas (John) of South Chesterfield, Cynthia Rowe (Lamar) of Petersburg, and Pamela Coggins-Simms (Rodney), who are also his God-parents of Lanham, MD; uncle, Joseph ""Jay"" Watts (Vivian) of Dinwiddie, VA; Great aunts, Carol Joe of Petersburg, Karen Boone of Upper Marlboro, MD, Gwendolyn Medua of Hopewell, VA, JoAnne Bracket of Danville, VA and Carolyn Terry of Hopewell; Great uncle, Louis Drumgoole (Bernice) of Baltimore, MD; numerous cousins, among those, devoted, Latia Pollard (Andrae) of Petersburg, Latoya Kelley (Rudy) of Petersburg, Lamar ""L.A."" Rowe, II of Petersburg, Ca'ron and Knyla Pollard, Jasmine and Janaya Kelley, Kayden Hawes-Rowe, Brian Joe, Joseph Walker and many more, too numerous to name; several devoted friends who were more like family, Darryl ""Tay Bonner"", Derick Massenburg, Lamount Evans, Mitchell Haskins, Shaun Thomas, Anthony ""AK"" Washington, Robert Jefferson, Robyn ""Tookie"" Parrot, Quintaze ""Que"" Hardy, Keyonna Howard, Joseph Turner, Daniel Cheatham, Leon Cheatham, Pierre Cheatham, Chaniqua Johnson, Samuel Thomas, Adrian Barrett, Keara McCombs, Tiara Boyd, Dquandre Crittendon, Montavis ""Boo"" Chavis and many more, too numerous to name.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Monique Samuels for all of her thoughtfulness, care, and concern during Cortez's brief hospitalization and sudden passing.

Cortez's life, though brief, was a true inspiration to all whom he encountered. Even in death, he is still being a blessing to others and he will continue to live on in our hearts forever.

A service celebrating Cortez's life will be held on Friday, February 26, 2021, at 2 p.m. at the Zion Apostolic Christian Memorial Church, 1601 Youngs Road, Petersburg, Virginia. Burial will follow at the Dinwiddie Memorial Park.

Public viewing will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from 12 Noon to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the professional staff- Petersburg Chapel- Joseph M. Johnson & Son Funeral Home, 530 S. Sycamore St., Petersburg, VA (804) 863-4411. www.johnsonservices.us