Birth Date: 12/14/1959
Deceased Date: 03/28/2020
David Harvey Cockrell, 60, of Smithfield, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the SECU Hospice House on 426 Hospital Road. He was born December 14, 1959, though rumors have it he could have been hatched or found under a rock somewhere in Johnston County. He was born to the late Kathleen and Wink Cockrell, the baby brother to three older siblings, known to be a loyal and heartwarmingly stubborn bunch. He was preceded in death by his brother and hero, Ray Cockrell (Janice), and survived by his beautiful, sweet, kind, brilliant (and he might add bossy, with a smile) sisters, Peggy Powell (Ronnie) and Debbie Jones (Charles). They were faithfully by his side as he peacefully passed.
David was a lineman for the town of Smithfield, where he was often seen driving around in his white town truck, with his arm hanging out of the window, waving at folks every chance he got. He may have also done work. He was also a part of the highly esteemed Smithfield Fire Department, who he considered family and one of the highest honors of his life. Christmas at the firehouse was something he always looked forward to.
He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Robbie Powell (Kelly), Kristina Benson (Kevin), Stephen Jones (Bethany), and Susan Culbreth (Mac). And he was able to pass down his keen ability to aggravate those he loved, bequeathing it to his great nieces and nephews, Brilyn Parker; Caleb, Katee Grace, and Izzy Culberth; Hattie Jo Powell. Whatever you do, don’t pull their fingers.
He is also survived by his faithful friend, Christina Urbina, who stuck by him through thick and thin.
He was preceded in death by a wonderful family dog named Smokey, who revealed David’s big heart when she once chewed up his favorite pair of ostrich skin cowboy boots and was allowed to see another day. He is survived by his son, David Cockrell (Courtney), who inherited his name and generous smile, and by his daughter, Melissa Parnell (Jonathan) who reportedly had him wrapped around her finger since birth.
And if there are any names for which he was most proud, and of whom he most boasted, it is his grandchildren: Elizabeth, Hannah, Micah, John Owen, Noah, Nathaniel, Ava, and Ruthie Parnell; Emma, Rosalee, and Joseph Cockrell. They made him far richer than he ever dreamed he would be.
Due to the unfortunate timing of his death during a global pandemic, he was privately buried in the family cemetery. Online condolences can be made to the family at parrishfh.com and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Smithfield Firefighters Association: 111 S. Fourth Street Smithfield, NC 27577.
