Mrs. Julie Gilbert Cotney's Obituary
Memorial Service for Mrs. Julie Gilbert Cotney, 67, of Daviston, AL, will be Wednesday,
June 5, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Phillip Green willofficiate. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 12:00 pm to2:00 pm at Radney Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cotney passed away Tuesday, May 28 th , 2024 at East Alabama Medical Centerfollowing a brief illness. She was born October 30 th, 1956 in Alexander City, AL toRussell Cozell Gilbert and Abcie Clovis Hardy Gilbert. She attended Russell School andBenjamin Russell High School graduating in 1975. She continued her education atAuburn University and Troy State University receiving her Nursing degree in 1979. Shebegan her long nursing career of more than 40 years first as a Registered Nurse at EastAlabama Medical Center. She then worked to establish the Occupational Nursingtesting program at Plantation Patterns in Wadley, AL. She was subsequently hired as anOccupational Health Nurse by Russell Corporation where she worked for more thantwenty years. She spent the remainder of her nursing career at Fresenius Medical Caretirelessly serving dialysis patients. Following her retirement, she volunteered extensivelywith the Russell Medical Center Auxiliary. She was also a trusted member of her localcommunities providing advice and in home care to countless numbers of people youngand old, with everything from minor scrapes and injuries to major medical emergencies.
Beyond her work as a healer and caretaker to others, she was a devoted wife of 46years to her husband Ronald Lee Cotney and a loving mother to her two sons, JustinLee Cotney and Matthew Alan Cotney. She was a staunch proponent of education andpushed her sons to receive higher education and pursue successful careers. She wasan active member of Daviston Baptist Church and the New Site Senior Citizens Group.Throughout her life she had a love of gardening and the outdoors creating a lush,beautiful landscape at her home in Daviston. She was a lifelong learner and received aMaster Gardener certificate from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in 2023.She was an active member of the Tallapoosa County Master Gardeners Associationsharing her experience and love of horticulture throughout the area.
She is survived by her husband Ronald Lee Cotney; sons, Dr. Justin Lee Cotney (Dr.Jennifer You) and Matthew Alan Cotney (Caitlyn Cotney); grandchildren, Wyatt Cotney,Olivia Cotney, Ava Cotney, Russell Cotney, and Phoebe Cotney; sister, Polly Gilbert(John Rifenbark, dec.); nephews Will Rifenbark and Graham Rifenbark; brother-in-lawDanny Cotney (Gaye Cotney); nieces Ryan Cotney Fincher and Rebecca CotneyPaton; and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Cozell andClovis Gilbert.
Private graveside services to be held at a later date and time.
The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donationto their favorite charity in Julie's name.
Radney Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Julie Gilbert Cotney.
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