Emmett Winbern Cocke, Jr., 1935-1992

Several weeks of hospitalization in 1991 kept Emmett from attending annual conference for the first time in nearly 40 years. When he returned to his pulpit to lead the service of worship and to share his witness to the Word, all were moved by his testimony to God's presence during his ordeal. He concluded the sermon by singing, unaccompanied, a favorite spiritual:

"Some glad morning
When this life is over,
I'll flyaway!"

Emmett was born in Gretna, Virginia, on April 26, 1935. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory and Henry College in 1956 and his Master of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School in 1960. He was ordained elder in the Virginia conference of the United Methodist Church in 1960. The Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Union Theological Seminary in Richmond in 1973.

Emmett began his ministry in Virginia in 1957. He served Hyco and Piney Forest in the Danville District; Reveille in Richmond as associate; campus minister and director of the Wesley Foundation in Richmond; Providence in York County; Asbury, Newport News; Pace Memorial and campus minister at Virginia Commonwealth University; Mount Vernon and Fairlington in the Alexandria District.

Emmett held numerous leadership positions in the Virginia conference, including chair of the conference Division of Campus Ministry and chair of the conference Board of Church and Society. He was a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences. He was a member of the board of directors of the Greater Washington Council of Churches and active in Ventures in Community, a social outreach ministry in Alexandria.

A leader in interfaith, missionary and campus ministries, Emmett was at the height of his professional career when he was found to have Crohn's disease and cancer. The treatment over an extended time included periods of inactivity alternating with periods of remission. "I fear death less than I fear the inability to perform the ministry to which I have been called," he observed. During his last hospitalization, Emmett was permitted his final priestly act: the baptism of his newest grandchild in the Children's Chapel of Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Within a few weeks, death's glad morning came and Emmett's "life was over. .."

A Service of Death and Resurrection was held at Fairlington United Methodist Church on September 28, 1992. Officiants included: the Rev. Drema McAllister-Wilson, pastor of Fairlington United Methodist Church; the Rev. Marta Burke, pastor of Norland United Methodist Church, Miami, Florida; Bishop Thomas B. Stockton; Dr. F. Douglas Dillard, superintendent of the Alexandria District; Andrew Cocke, son of Emmett Cocke; the Rev. Cynthia Coleman, pastor of Del Ray United Methodist Church; the Rev. John Coffey, retired minister of the Virginia conference; the Rev. Robert E. Vaughn, pastor of Providence-Woodland United Methodist churches in Suffolk, Virginia; and the Rev. Robert Thomason, director of United College Ministries in Northern Virginia.

A combined choir of Mt. Vernon and Fairlington churches led by Louise C. Wilson and Virginia Campbell sang a portion of the John Rutter Requiem and a special setting of "For All the Saints."

On the following day, services and interment were held at Anderson Memorial in Gretna, the home church of the Cocke family. Ministerial colleague, the Rev. Richard Faris, conducted the service, assisted by Lynchburg District Superintendent David Smith, and local pastor, the Rev. Carleton L. Thomas and the Rev. Rudy Hearn.

Emmett's surviving family includes his wife of 25 years, Lucy Sydnor Cocke; two daughters, Rose M. Dare and Beth A. Ernst; two sons, Joseph W. and Andrew S. Cocke; his mother, Ruby Cocke; a sister, Juanita Minor; a brother, Welford Cocke; and four grandchildren: Tucker Emmett Dare, Cameron Claire Dare; Maxwell Joseph Ernst and Spencer Thomas Ernst.

In tribute to Emmett, the Virginia Advocate observed:
"His quiet way of speaking the truth in love challenged many a United Methodist in our conference. He was our conscience. To the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, Emmett was a tireless worker, sharing his ideas, giving precious time and energy. Imagine a baker kneading dough -- a vital step in making the best bread: that's what Emmett did for higher education and campus ministry.

"In love and with great appreciation, we honor his memory. May God raise up among us rare gifts like Emmett, persons who have so little thought for their own egos and so much consideration for people who are pushed aside in the name of progress or even religion."

A memorial fund has been established to provide an annual scholarship grant and a social justice award in his honor and in memory of Emmett's joyous and effective ministry.

 

-John Haines Coffey