Pauline Hand Cochran

Pauline Hand Cochran, longtime resident of Jackson MS, died on March 24, 2025, at age ninety-one, at Peach Tree Village Assisted Living in Brandon. She was born in Lexington, MS on November 21, 1933, to Leon Paul Hand and Meta Armstrong Hand. The family moved from Lexington, MS in 1937 to Goodman MS, where she grew up.

Pauline graduated with honors from Holmes Junior College in her hometown of Goodman in 1953, where she was in the choir and band and was accompanist for the HJC choir. She graduated with honors from Delta State in 1955, where she was accompanist for the Delta Singers, president of the Inter-Faith Council, and president of Kappa Delta Pi.

Pauline married Jack Cochran on June 2, 1955. They taught at Benoit High School during the 1955-56 school year. Their son, Richard, was born on September 11, 1956, and they moved to Centreville, Alabama, where Pauline worked in a law office and was organist at the Brent Presbyterian Church. In June 1965, they moved to Jackson MS, where Pauline worked as a legal secretary, then paralegal, with Alex Alston for 40 years. She completed 40 semester hours of legal courses from the University of Mississippi for paralegal certification, then, following an exam, was certified by the National Association of Legal Assistants. She served in various capacities, including president, in the Mississippi Association of Legal Assistants (later Mississippi Paralegal Association).

Pauline and Jack were longtime members of Northminster Baptist Church. Pauline loved keeping up with all of her relatives and friends and staying in close touch with them. She enjoyed a lifelong friendship Ann Neaves Boling and Sylvia Schrock Scott, both of whom predeceased her, the three affectionately remembered as “The Goodman Girls.”

Pauline is predeceased by her husband of sixty-seven years, Jack Cochran, as well as her parents, Paul and Meta Hand and her brother, Bobby. She is survived by her son, Richard (Ric) Cochran and his former wife, Pat Goza Cochran, of Brandon MS; grandson, Josh Cochran and wife, Ronette; granddaughter, Lauren Cochran Buntin; great-grandsons, Alex and Connor Cochran, great-granddaughters, Brooklyn and Rivers Buntin; sister, Mary Evelyn Hand Canter; niece Kelle Alavi and husband Jim; and niece Shannon Phillips and her children, Cliff and Morgan. Pauline and Jack had a passion for rescuing and adopting cats and a few dogs whom they found, or who found them.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate to the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) in Jackson or remember her with a random act of kindness.

A graveside service will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in Goodman, MS on Friday, April 4, at 10am.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

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