Leslie A. Cotman was born in Harlem, NY on April 14, 1949 to the late Unadeene E. Jones and Frederick Cotman. She lived in New York for over 40 years. During that time, she raised her “girls” and worked in the Airline Industry as a Customer Service Representative.
In 1995, Leslie relocated to Atlanta, which she affectionately called “Hot-Lanta”. She secured a position with Delta Airlines as a CSR and later a Supervisor. She retired from the Airlines, and never wanting to sit still, she worked for the Newton County School system at Alcovy High School and Johnson Park Recreation in Conyers. She had a natural rapport with youth, her mentoring style was delivered in a no holds barred, no filter manner that was filled with love. She was looked at as a grandmother, surrogate mom, disciplinarian, and friend. With respect and affection, she was dubbed “Ms. C”.
Leslie loved the Betty Boop Character. She was a member of a small group of Woman called the “Johnson Park Girls”. She enjoyed shopping, decorating, dining out and “chillin'.” She never missed an opportunity to “fuss”. Leslie took great pride in supporting her grands and great-grands at all their functions. The joy they brought her was visible every time they were together. Leslie had a “partner in crime” who could do NO wrong and that was her grandson Andre`, they watched Sci-Fi together there was not a SharkNado, Killer Bug or Disaster movie that they had not seen. Her Son In-Laws were larger than life characters if you let her tell it. Leslie was a member at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church although less active recently she always considered Mt. Zion her Church Home. Leslie enjoyed her quiet time in front the TV with her favorite shows but she would jump at every opportunity to be a “roll dog”. She Co-Piloted and was the saving grace for many road trips.
To know Leslie was to know she was a mother that encouraged you to be your best, was supportive and giving of herself, she put her children first, herself last and her doors were always open. Leslie was an ideal grandmother if the grands needed the grands received “no” was not in her vocabulary.
Leslie leaves to cherish her memory her daughters: Elise S. Council, Tanya L. Clayborne, and Lita P. Rawles, her sons-in-law, A. Terrence Council Sr. and Earnest Rawles III, her grandchildren Nikia, Chason “CJ” (Asia), Alori (Quindrelin “Dre”), Andre “TJ”, James Asjah, Aliyah, Ashlee, Laila, Jada, and Earnest “Sam”, great-grandchildren, Amaya, Amani, London, and Landon, Aunts and Uncles Coral Queen (Wilbur) and Genevieve Lee (late Robert Lee), first cousins, Nafeesah (Carol) Shaheed (Abdullah) and Tracey S. Tabor (David), nieces and nephews, Dawn Keith, Mia Lee, Sean Lee, Quentin Keith, a life-long friend Vickie Lee Tucker, and a host of cousins, extended family members and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church, in Oxford with Rev. Charlie Williams officiating.
