Margaret Ann (Smith) Cochran

Margaret Ann Smith Cochran was born in 1946 the 8th day of December to the late Robert Steve Smith Sr. and Inoima Webb Smith in Texarkana, Arkansas. She was the fourth of eight children, three sisters and four brothers. She attended Carver Elementary and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1964. She worked in hospitality at the Ritz shortly afterwards. 

In the late 60s – early 70s, Margaret married and set out to establish her family out of the quiet small-town warmth of the south to the loud hustle and bustle cold of the north in Chicago. She was an avid reader of novels with an extensive library and instilled the value of learning to her children. She was also an expert seamstress to family and friends, and especially known for her custom garments. Did some say cook? She was a skilled self-taught chef and pastry artist. Margaret was known for signature dishes that she often prepared such as; Tuna, Pasta Salad, “The Green Stuff,” Meatballs and Lemon Squares just to name a few. Her genuine love for making others happy and enjoying what she had to offer them was a joy to her!

In the mid-70s, Margaret Cochran would become well known throughout the Chicago southside Catholic Community for her efforts at St. Sabina school gymnasium every Saturday of the junior catholic league basketball season. She was not only the supporting wife of the head coach (her husband) of St. Sabina’s basketball team, but she was also the mother of one of the starting point guards (her son). Mrs. Cochran was the face of the concession stand, every weekend she provided energy and nourishment (Dunkin’ Doughnuts and Tang) to players and fans alike. 

After the St. Sabina years of the early-80s, Margaret prepared a son for college and beyond and dedicated herself to raising an amazing daughter. In the late 1980’s Margaret held many positions at the Asa Phillip Randolph Magnet School for nearly two decades. Mrs. Cochran didn’t play, but she made sure students had all the tools needed to succeed. She even made the cheerleader uniforms and kept them in pristine condition. Margaret Cochran was the perfect representation of a supportive parent. She never obtained a drivers license so she would often walk home from work with tons of students. Little did she know she was their protection, she made sure children got home with the “Starter” coats on their backs and “Jordan’s” on their feet! 

After a long work day, she was known for her famous NAP. Which basically meant “DON’T WAKE ME UP! Children in the neighborhood couldn’t wait until she woke from her nap so she could assistance them with homework. There wasn’t anyone in the world that she wouldn’t help. In the early 2000’s Margaret Cochran retired from Asa Phillip Randolph and in 2010 she was finally titled “GRANNAN!” It was a true joy to see her recreate the same memories with her grandchildren that she created with her own children. During her retirement years Margaret developed a love and skill in genuine ancestry research.

In 2019 Margaret won her first fight with breast cancer and in 2020 moved to Clanton, Alabama to be closer to her daughter. January 28th 2022 Margaret Cochran suffered an aortic dissection. It slowed her down but it definitely did NOT STOP her WILL and DETERMINATION to FIGHT and to LIVE. She literally fought every day of the last five months of her life! At 5:29P.M. on the 27th day of June Margaret also titled “THE LITTLE LADY THAT COULD,” fought a good fight and it was officially time for her to rest. She passed away in Birmingham, Alabama at UAB hospital.

She was preceded in death by Robert Steve Smith Sr. (Father), Inoima Webb Smith (Mother), Joseph Steve Smith (brother), Robert Steve Smith Jr. (brother), Edward Donelson Jr. (brother). She leaves to cherish (Brothers); James Steve Smith and William Donelson, (Sisters) Bettie Smith Huntley, Helen Donelson Henry, Marva Simpson. (Husband) Willie Cochran Clanton, AL, (Children) Anthony Cochran, Johnson City, TN, and LaMonica Cochran Clanton, AL (Grandchildren) Jeremiah and Ziah Ray Clanton, AL, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.    

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