Richard Ashley Cochran

Richard Ashley Cochran, 50, of Valdosta and formerly of Largo, Florida, died on Friday, May 19, 2023, at South Georgia Medical Center following a period of declining health. He was born on June 15, 1972, in Valdosta to Michael T. Cochran and Judy Tison Wilson. Richard moved from Valdosta in 1973 to reside in Tampa, Florida and attended Forest Hill Elementary, Twin Lakes Sixth Grade Center, Adams Jr. High, and graduated from Chamberlain High School. Richard then joined the United States Marine Corps for a tenure of six years and was honorably discharged having attained the rank of Sergeant. Upon his release from active military service, he went on to become an ATP certified pilot and flew for Gulfstream and U.S. Airways. Following the events of 9/11, he served as a Flight Deck Marshall for the United States Government and the airlines.

He is survived by his mother, Judy Tison Wilson, and his father, Michael T. Cochran; his fiancee, Denise Mills of Largo, Florida; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded by his grandparents, Samuel T. Tison, Myrtice Zeigler Tison Pritchard and Richard Pritchard, George Hubert Cochran, Mabel Smith Cochran Best and Jerry Best.

Services for Richard Ashley Cochran will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in the chapel of the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home with Dr. Henry Cannington and Pastor Aaron Kight officiating. The burial will follow in the Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. McLane Lakewood.