Martha De Neen Cotten passed away from this life on May 26, 2015, in Winter Park, Florida, after a period of declining health. She was born in August, 1940, in Washington, D.C., to Martha Turner De Neen and Peter De Neen.
Martha is survived by her husband of 48 years, Whitworth Cotten, Jr., of Winter Park; son Whitworth Cotten III, of Portland, OR; daughter Martha-Carole Cotten, Maui, Hawaii; daughter DeNeen Collins, Cape Canaveral, FL, and sister Barbara Stakes, White Bear Lake, MN. Martha has 4 grandsons, 2 grand-daughters, and numerous nieces and nephews in the Minneapolis area.
Martha was an Honors graduate of Rollins College, Winter Park, FL (B.S., Psychology) and held an M.A. degree in Psychology and Counseling (honors) from Hood College in Frederick, MD. Martha was a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a member of the American Counseling Association, Florida Mental Health Counselors Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors. During her counseling career, Martha worked for the Lakeside Behavioral Health Care, Orlando Regional Health Care, and Central Florida Psychological Associates, before opening her own private practice in Winter Park. She had worked earlier in her career for the U. S. Army Walter Reed Medical Center and the U. S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Washington, DC, and later for the U.S Air Force Eastern Test Range at Patrick AFB and the Social Security Administration in Brevard County.
She had a lifelong passion for community service. Martha served as President of the Melbourne Junior Woman's Club and was past Regent of the WP Duval Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Winter Park. Martha was a member of the Council of 101 of the Orlando Museum of Art; American Association of University Women; University Club of Winter Park; a life sustaining member of Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO), and previously served on the OPO Board of Directors. Martha was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Winter Park for 32 years and of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne for 14 years.
Throughout her life of 74 years, Martha was a kind and generous spirit with a keen intellect, supporting family members, the University Club, Festival of Orchestras, and Orlando Museum of Art. She generously supported multiple tuition college scholarships via the DAR for deserving students in memory of her mother, Martha Turner. Martha was greatly loved by all her family, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends. She was a member of the Winter Park Racquet Club, the Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, and the Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Melbourne, FL.
Funeral services celebrating Martha's life will be held on Friday, June 5, 2015, at 1.30 PM, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 338 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789. Burial will be a private service in Palm Cemetery, Winter Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be considered in Martha's memory, and may be sent to The Healing Ministry at All Saints Church, at the church address above.