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Gene Darwin Cockrell Jr.

March 27, 1966 ~ November 3, 2024


Resided in: Battleboro, NC

BATTLEBORO – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Gene Darwin Cockrell, Jr. on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at the age of 58.  Darwin was born on March 27, 1966, to his parents Gene and Jean Cockrell.  He was preceded in death by his father, Gene Darwin Cockrell.

Darwin graduated from Northern Nash Senior High and attended Nash Community College.  He was the proud owner of Cockrell’s Tree Service along with his father.  Darwin took great pride in being the “BEST” tree service in the area.  He loved his customers and the connection he made with each and every one of them was unique.  If Darwin was not working, you could find him at the ballgame watching his kids or on the water at the beach.  They were his pride and joy.  Darwin was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother, who will be missed terribly by all.

Darwin is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Brooke Cockrell; his son, Chandler Cockrell; his daughter, Molly Cockrell; his mother, Jean Cockrell; his sister, Tina Mayo and husband, Charlie; and several nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

A Celebration of Darwin’s Life will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Pastor Mark Pridgen officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.

Services

Celebration of Life: Friday, November 8, 2024 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home
1130 N. Winstead Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC United States

27804
252-451-8800

Visitation: Friday, November 8, 2024 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home
1130 N. Winstead Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC United States

27804
2524518800

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  1. I’m so sorry. May God comfort y’all in the coming days, weeks & months. Sending love & prayers.🙏🏻

  2. I am so very sorry for your loss. Please know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers. May God bring you comfort in the days ahead. Much love from the Newcomb’s. Ashley, Maria and Landon

  3. Jean, So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family. May GOD give you the strength you need in the coming days and months ahead. God bless you! Dianne White

    • Mrs. Jean, Brooke, and family – I am heartbroken to hear Darwin has passed. So many prayers for Your loss. He, Mr. Gene, you two, and crew truly were the BEST most professional of your craft. And a great family.

  4. Our hearts and prayers will remain with your precious family as you grieve this unfathomable loss. We pray comfort and peace will surround each of you exactly when you need it.

    We love you guys.

    Matt, Julie and Mckenna Rowe

  5. Dear Brooke, Chandler, and Molly,
    Our family is so sorry for you all. We are praying for our Lord and Savior to comfort each of you and give you a peace that only He can give during this awful time. Connor worked with Darwin a few summers while in high school and during ECU. We appreciated the summer job and the experience. He enjoyed Darwin. Molly—I loved having you in my Sunday school class at Momeyer Baptist. We love your family and you are all in our prayers.

  6. Praying so much for the members of my family. May God wrap his loving arms around each one of you and give you comfort and understanding. Love you all so very much even though we dont see each other often enough. I have a lot of great memories of traveling there growing up and of Darwin. This will be such a huge loss for all who knew him.

  7. It’s going to be hard 😭 on me not seeing you out and a inbout in the morning 🌄 .Both of us heading to work . RIP my friend it was great knowing you

  8. Darwin was a charter to say the least…… Growing up I met Darwin after I got my driver’s license when teenagers hung out on sunset Avenue…

    Darwin and myself had nice cars as teenagers because we worked summers with our fathers and we learned far more from our fathers than we were paid….

    Darwin in the past year done tree work for me and we had talks about our fathers, our younger days and upbringing…. we were lucky to have the fathers we had and we both knew it….

    Rambunctious rowdy boys we had been…

    Such a shock to hear of this tragic event….

    I pray for the family……

  9. I am so sorry for the families loss. Darwin was a friend since our teenage years and was always a genuinely nice person. He was very proud of his children and wife. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

  10. Darwin was always a great cheerleader for his kids. He always had a kind word of encouragement for mine as well. I will miss talking to him at the games. Our family will have you all in our prayers for spiritual healing and the comfort of God’s grace.

  11. So very sorry to learn of your loss. Continued prayers for all of the family. May God comfort and encourage you in the days ahead with His perfect peace.

  12. I have no words sufficient to express how deeply saddened I am to learn of Gene’s passing. Keeping you all in my prayers and asking our Father to grant you strength to see you all through the days, weeks and months ahead. Keep Gene’s memory close and speak his name often. With our deepest sympathy, Ginny & Peter

  13. My prayers go out to Ms. Jean & Tina. So sorry for your loss and the hurt you’re feeling.
    Gene & Debbie Dawes

  14. Our sincere condolences for your family’s loss. Praying for strength and comfort in the days ahead for all the family as you adjust to this new chapter in life.

    Ronnie and Laura Harris (Friend and Classmate of Charlie Mayo)

  15. Sorry to hear this unfortunate news he seemed to be living a very happy prosperous life im sorry for his family which he clearly loved i will keep all involved in my prayers.We met in middle school and remained friends even though we didnt see one another much.We all feel his families loss as we all seemed to see things on the same plane and were mostly cut from the same cloth he will be sorely missed by us all !!!!!

  16. Darwin and I go way back – to when he was in high school. Since then we became good friends and relied on each other. He was a very successful business owner and built his tree service into the best in the area! I am so sorry and I will miss him!

  17. My mom and dad will be waiting right beside his dad, Mr. Gene, to welcome this young man into the flock. My dad always loved Darwin as his own and cherished the time he got to spend with him and always had a good tale to tell about their escapades. I know this is particularly hard for Mrs. Gene as Darwin was her baby and always will be. To Tina and the rest of his family I am so sorry you have live without your brother and father and husband the rest of your lives and it is the hardest thing you will ever do. Trust in God who walks with you all the time and he will help lighten the load.

  18. So sorry for this wonderful family. We met when our boys were playing baseball .
    Darwin was a fun and a pleasant person to be around .Brook, Chandler, Mollie and Miss Jean my heart is so sad for y’all . Sending payers and hugs for this family .

  19. My deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Darwin, like many I had the pleasure of meeting him threw his business, he was a very kind man. God Bless each and everyone.

  20. Darwin and I go back to Childhood when we were Batboys for Walker Saw USSSA Softball Team. Both our Dads “Gene” played on that team.
    We had a LOT of FUN going to those tournaments, then we took our Babe Ruth Baseball team to a couple youth softball tournaments and won the STATE Championship.
    That Bronco ! Oh My. I will remember a Lot of Good Times we had.
    “Squirrel Whisperer”.

  21. My heart is just broken to hear about your loss. All of the family are certainly in my prayers. May God be with you.

  22. So many memories “back in the day”. You, Kristie, Heather, and Randy. Of course, Lisa and me (the two little sisters) hanging out on the side lines waiting for you to let us drive your Vette!! And you did! Lol

    I’m so lost for words….but I know for sure that you loved your family and you were so proud of your babies.

    Tell Bryan his family misses him.
    You will be missed my friend!

    I will miss you coming and helping me with my tree.

    Sad is an understatement for your families loss but I will keep them all in my thoughts and prayers! Love ya! Nicky

  23. I only knew Darwin briefly when he and his crew came to my home to remove two large trees and several overgrown bushes. The yard was in bad shape last month. It was filled with clumps of thick grass, limbs, and weeds. Darwin, his wife, and I did a preliminary walk through the yard to get an estimate. I was often not steady on my feet and when it looked as if I were about to fall, Darwin reached out his hand to me to keep from tripping. I appreciated that. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends.


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