Myrtle Martin Cochrane

Myrtle Caroline Martin Cochrane, longtime resident of Charlotte and a member of Prosperity Presbyterian Church since 1941, died unexpectedly Sunday, July 15, 2012 in Chapel Hill, NC. Myrtle was born in Anson County on September 2, 1915, the eldest of the six children of Oscar Bennett Martin and Iola Georgia Alice McIntyre Martin. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years,W. E. Cochrane, brothers Cecil, Oscar, and Clayton Martin, and sisters Maude Martin Sides, and Pearl Martin Bowen, and two grandsons, Joshua Seth Paul and Jason Noel Paul. She was raised at Mt. Vernon Methodist Church in Anson County where her dad was a self-ordained minister. She was baptized as a teenager at the Brown Creek Baptist Church by Reverend Meigs and graduated from Ansonville High School in 1934. After high school, Myrtle left Polkton for the Continental College of Cosmetology in High Point. After finishing her training, she worked in Marshville, Asheboro, and Galax, Virginia. She returned to High Point where she and her friend, Lessie Britt, opened Lessie and Myrtle's Beauty Shop in High Point, right across from the Amos Hosiery Mill on Russell Street. Myrtle lived in Mrs. Wedons Boarding House on Hamilton Street and met Willis Eugene Cochrane of the Nevins Community in Charlotte, who was driving a truck for Fredrickson. They married July 11, 1941 at the court house in High Point. She moved to Charlotte and joined, Prosperity ARP Church in Huntersville where Gene and his family were members. Myrtle worked at Pierce Beauty Shop on the downtown square above Ligget's Drug Store in Charlotte before opening her own shop in the home she and Gene built on Cochrane Drive, where she worked as a beautician for over 50 years while Gene worked for the Charlotte water department and farmed. She is survived by her two daughters, Carol Cochrane Paul (Richard) of Williamstown, MA, and Dixie Cochrane Hapgood (Cyrus) of Chapel Hill, NC; three grandchildren and their spouses, Christopher Cyrus Hapgood (Pascale) of Charlottesville, VA, Matthew Eugene Hapgood (Bobbi), of Chapel Hill, NC, and Robin Paul Kelleher (Brian) of NY, NY; four great-grand children, Alexandre Cyrus Hapgood, Margaux Annick Hapgood, Lachlan Jason Kelleher and Callum Paul Kelleher. We extend our appreciation to all the nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends whom she has kept in her prayers throughout the years. Special thanks to Dana Greene-Schloesser, and niece, Cathee Martin Griffin and her daughter Nicole Griffin Chiulli, who have been such an important part of Myrtle's life. Myrtle lived by the values taught her by her parents and the members of the little Mt. Vernon Methodist Church in Polkton and was always willing to "try a little harder, I can do better". She greeted each day with the words "This is the day the Lord hath made Let us rejoice and be glad in it". Visitation will be Wednesday, July 18 from 6:00-8:00pm at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home in Huntersville, NC. Her service will be held 11:00 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Prosperity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Prosperity Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund at 5533 Prosperity Church Road, Charlotte, NC 28269, or to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at 322 8th Ave., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10001 Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com