Alexander 1993 to 2023: Jason Cotton, Jr. Springfield Alexander On April 13, 2023, Jason Cotton Jr. “AJ” was sadly stolen from us. On August 16, 1993, he was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Alexander and Suzette Cotton. AJ was born, raised, and educated in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
In 2011, he graduated from Minnechaug High School. He played youth soccer, but at the age of 8, he discovered his love of football, which led him to play varsity and jr. varsity football throughout his academic career. Until he decided to leave in 2013, he completed his studies at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire.
He was a liberal arts student now enrolled at Holyoke Community College. Dunkin Donuts was AJ’s first employer. Because it was also his sister’s first job, he decided to take it because he believed it would be interesting to work where she had previously worked.
The remainder of his career was spent providing maintenance and environmental services for MaxOne Enterprises and ADVANTICS Inc. until those companies closed in 2020. His love for Anaya was unending, and becoming a parent to her was his greatest joy.
He was committed to her from the minute he cut the umbilical cord. She and her well-being were his entire world. Even the most direct interactions, like taking her for walks to spend time together, were enjoyable to him because he loved everything about her and being her father.
He discussed planning to surprise Anaya the following morning and taking her to school in one of his final texts to her mother the evening before he passed away. One of his last thoughts was about his daughter. He loved video games and played Grand Theft Auto frequently.
We had previously written a few articles about obituaries. Visit the following links to learn more:
- David Irwin Obituary (1947-2023) and Tribute To Him
- Arline Hall Obituary: Remembering Her Joyful Life and Legacy
He adored reading fiction and adventure novels, and his preferred vacation destinations were tropical locales like the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hawaii, and the Bahamas. Welcome to Miami. He continued to be a vast Patriots supporter and a football and sports fanatic.
He was a traditionalist when it came to sweets. To mention a few, he adored airheads, nerds, gummy worms, and sour patch kids. His grandfather Delino House, grandmother Patricia Bennett, and father Alex Cotton Sr. predeceased him.
AJ is survived by his mother Suzette Cotton, sister Kidon Gebersadik (Springfield, MA), daughter Anaya Cotton (Springfield, MA), grandfather James Bennett Sr (Springfield, MA), grandmother JoAnn House (Baltimore, MD), grandfather John Cotton Jr (Sherry) (Suffolk, VA), uncle Jimmy Bennett (Springfield, MA), cousin Cassandra Bennett (Springfield, MA), and his God brother Jahaad. Numerous cousins, members of the extended family, and numerous friends will always be in his memory.
The funeral will take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Celebration of Life will follow the visitation at The Whole Truth Temple of God and Christ, 8 Norfolk St, Springfield, MA 01109, at 12:00 PM. Burial at Springfield’s Oak Grove Cemetery. The arrangements are in the hands of Henderson Funeral Home.
