Mr. William O'Dell Cotton departed this life and entered his eternal home on October 5 ^th , 2020.  He was the second of ten children born to Clara Belle O'Dell Cotton and Pledger Dillard Cotton on April 21, 1924 in Maysville, Georgia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives: Mary Brand Cotton and Jeanette Lowe Cotton; siblings: Sara Cotton Webb, Grace Cotton Crane, Pat Cotton Crane, Charles Pledger Cotton, Robert Eugene Cotton, Jerry Lamar Cotton, and John "Butch" Wayne Cotton.

Mr. Cotton is survived by his wife, Willa Nelle Sharp Cotton; son and daughter-in-law Anthony Stephen Cotton and Susan Harris Cotton; grandson Chad Stephen Cotton; great grandson Bentley Leroy Cotton; sisters: Jo Cotton Wilbanks and Judy Cotton Wilson; children by marriage: Ronnie Sharp and Pat Sharp; special grandchildren: John William Favors and Jeana Favors Greene Glassman; and special great grandchildren: Jack Charles Greene, Keli Raeann Greene, Kali Renee Greene and Emma Grace Favors. Mr. Cotton is also survived by several nieces and nephews.  He had a tremendous love for his family.

At eighteen years of age, Mr. Cotton traveled to Florida to work in the citrus fields. Approximately one year later he returned to Atlanta where he worked for various companies including: Delta Air Lines, Avon, and Bill's Delivery Service, before employment with McCrory Stores where he worked for twenty-three years as an over-the-road truck driver traveling throughout the United States. He was also employed by The Sherwin Williams Company as an over-the-road truck driver.  During his forty one year driving history, he made several friends across the country and formed many friendships that he maintained until the time of his death.  After retirement, Mr. Cotton provided lawn care for the Mt. Arbor Baptist Church grounds and cemetery.  Mr. Cotton was also a vegetable garden enthusiast and would often plant vegetables simply for the blessing of sharing with his friends and neighbors. He made his last garden in the summer of 2019 at the age of 95 years.

In February 1996, William Cotton married Willa Nell Sharp Cotton and they resided in Marietta, Georgia. The two enjoyed traveling to Florida as well as various places in the southeastern United States. They attended Mt. Arbor Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held 3pm Saturday at Marietta Funeral Home and Crematory (Covid-19 Guidelines will be followed) at 915 Piedmont Road, Marietta, Georgia with interment at Mt. Arbor Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia. The family will receive friends from 1 until 3 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mt. Arbor Baptist Church located at 2235 Morgan Road, Marietta, Georgia 30066.