Obituary for Barbara Alston
Barbara (Bobbye) Jean Cotten Alston, 82, was born on May 14, 1940, and passed away
peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, August 15, 2022, at Baptist Medical Center
Attala in Kosciusko, MS.
Please join us in celebrating her amazing life and indomitable spirit on Thursday, August
18, 2022, at 10:00 am at Seneasha Methodist Church with burial to follow in the church’s
cemetery with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. A visitation will also be held at Culpepper
Funeral Home in Kosciusko, MS on Wednesday August 17, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
Barbara is survived by her children Jon Anne Alston Cade (Terry) and Tommy Alston (Kim);
her grandchildren, Ryan Cade (Gabriella), Harlee Alston, Tyler Perry (Brooke), Hope Perry,
and great-grandchildren Reese and Elizabeth Cade. Barbara is also survived by her oldest
best friend, Jessie Massey, and her youngest best friend, Emily Frazier. She shared many
shopping trips with Jessie and loved sharing ice cream cones with Emily.
Barbara was preceded in death by John Hayward Alston, her devoted husband of nearly 56
years, and her parents, Louis T., and Emma Jean McKay Cotten.
Barbara’s life was comprised of many challenges which began at an early age. She
contracted the dreaded polio virus on a family vacation to New Mexico when she was 10
years old. She was flown to Jackson, MS by Army transport by herself where she was taken
to Mercy Hospital in Vicksburg, MS for treatment. There she underwent countless number
of surgeries on her feet and spent over a year in the hospital.
After a long, arduous battle to overcome the debilitating effects of polio, Barbara’s
strength, determination, and independent spirit allowed her to overcome many obstacles
and defy her doctors’ grave predications that she would never drive, hold a job or have
children. Barbara’s childhood was spent learning how to walk again with the aid of
cumbersome leg braces and a walking cane. Despite these many challenges, she went on
to graduate from Holmes County Agricultural High School in 1958 and attend Holmes
Junior College in Goodman, MS. She also worked outside the home for Kosciusko Light &
Water for a number of years before becoming a wife to her beloved husband, John
Hayward, and mother to Jon Anne and Tommy.
Barbara walked down the aisle on June 4, 1961, with only the assistance of her Uncle James
J. McKay, Jr.’s arm. She bought her first car when she began working and drove up until her
80th birthday. Barbara was not one to let her physical limitations slow her down even when
the effects of post-polio syndrome caught up with her much later in life. She enjoyed
crafting, cooking, shopping, visiting the beauty salon weekly, and spending time with family
and friends. Barbara was a life-long member of Seneasha Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Ken Adcock, Edwin Albin, Archie Cain, Jimmy Dickerson, Daniel Frazier Kimball Gober, Tyler Perry, and Robbie Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be Darran Ables, Dewitt Adcock, Jerry Burrell, Ryan Cade, Terry Cade, David Chamblee, Mike Hamlett, Richard Jones, Terry Wayne Lepard, Barry Ray and Cody Sterling.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Seneasha Methodist Church in Goodman.
peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, August 15, 2022, at Baptist Medical Center
Attala in Kosciusko, MS.
Please join us in celebrating her amazing life and indomitable spirit on Thursday, August
18, 2022, at 10:00 am at Seneasha Methodist Church with burial to follow in the church’s
cemetery with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. A visitation will also be held at Culpepper
Funeral Home in Kosciusko, MS on Wednesday August 17, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
Barbara is survived by her children Jon Anne Alston Cade (Terry) and Tommy Alston (Kim);
her grandchildren, Ryan Cade (Gabriella), Harlee Alston, Tyler Perry (Brooke), Hope Perry,
and great-grandchildren Reese and Elizabeth Cade. Barbara is also survived by her oldest
best friend, Jessie Massey, and her youngest best friend, Emily Frazier. She shared many
shopping trips with Jessie and loved sharing ice cream cones with Emily.
Barbara was preceded in death by John Hayward Alston, her devoted husband of nearly 56
years, and her parents, Louis T., and Emma Jean McKay Cotten.
Barbara’s life was comprised of many challenges which began at an early age. She
contracted the dreaded polio virus on a family vacation to New Mexico when she was 10
years old. She was flown to Jackson, MS by Army transport by herself where she was taken
to Mercy Hospital in Vicksburg, MS for treatment. There she underwent countless number
of surgeries on her feet and spent over a year in the hospital.
After a long, arduous battle to overcome the debilitating effects of polio, Barbara’s
strength, determination, and independent spirit allowed her to overcome many obstacles
and defy her doctors’ grave predications that she would never drive, hold a job or have
children. Barbara’s childhood was spent learning how to walk again with the aid of
cumbersome leg braces and a walking cane. Despite these many challenges, she went on
to graduate from Holmes County Agricultural High School in 1958 and attend Holmes
Junior College in Goodman, MS. She also worked outside the home for Kosciusko Light &
Water for a number of years before becoming a wife to her beloved husband, John
Hayward, and mother to Jon Anne and Tommy.
Barbara walked down the aisle on June 4, 1961, with only the assistance of her Uncle James
J. McKay, Jr.’s arm. She bought her first car when she began working and drove up until her
80th birthday. Barbara was not one to let her physical limitations slow her down even when
the effects of post-polio syndrome caught up with her much later in life. She enjoyed
crafting, cooking, shopping, visiting the beauty salon weekly, and spending time with family
and friends. Barbara was a life-long member of Seneasha Methodist Church.
Pallbearers will be Ken Adcock, Edwin Albin, Archie Cain, Jimmy Dickerson, Daniel Frazier Kimball Gober, Tyler Perry, and Robbie Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be Darran Ables, Dewitt Adcock, Jerry Burrell, Ryan Cade, Terry Cade, David Chamblee, Mike Hamlett, Richard Jones, Terry Wayne Lepard, Barry Ray and Cody Sterling.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Seneasha Methodist Church in Goodman.