Obituary

Battleboro -

In the early morning hours of Friday, August 15, 2025, our beloved father, Papa, and dear friend finished his race and claimed his victory with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This amazing journey began on April 3, 1947 in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, when Ira Benjamin and Grace Virginia Cohoon were blessed with the birth of their only child, William Lawrence, affectionately known thereafter as “Bill”.

The small, rural township of Kilkenny provided an ideal landscape for a boy who loved adventure and outdoor life. Many hours and afternoons were spent hunting, fishing, and exploring the Alligator River. He grew to become a devoted son, an avid outdoorsman, and later, husband and father, never forgetting the hometown roots that nurtured his early years and contributed to a foundation of strong core values.

Answering his country’s call of duty, young Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force and served honorably during the Vietnam War. He loved his country and was proud to be an American Veteran.

June 22, 1968 was the day he pledged himself to Lou and the beginning of a deep and loving commitment celebrated with fifty-six years of marriage. Together, they raised two daughters and built a wonderful family life. Bill’s spirit of entrepreneurship helped him to own and operate multiple family businesses, including Four Seasons Heating & Cooling, Tar River Heating & Cooling, as well popular restaurants, Westry’s Take Out and Ms. Kat’s.

Never one to entertain idle hands, Bill always managed to busy himself with a variety of favorite activities including Beagle Club competitions, coaching little league and church ball teams, and gardening, freezing & canning vegetables that may or may not get eaten.

But above all else, Bill was a child of God and serious in his work of sewing seeds for the kingdom. Through the years, he served faithfully in various capacities including Sunday school teacher and deacon. His heart was especially moved with compassion for mission work, seizing opportunities to serve in Africa, the Philippines, Honduras, Sri Lanka, and New York.

Without a doubt and beyond description, Bill was in love with life and spent his seventy-eight years cherishing the gifts of salvation, family, friendship, and love. Our hearts will never stop missing him.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his infant son, Gregory Allen Cohoon, and recently, his devoted wife, Lou. A lifetime of unforgettable memories are left to be treasured by his beloved daughters, Angela Cohoon Stokes (Robbie) of Red Oak and Jessica Cohoon Daughtridge of Rocky Mount; his granddaughter who was the apple of his eye, Olivia Daughtridge; step-grandchildren, Noah Stokes (Rebecca), and Mary Kathryne Baker (Michael); four great-grandchildren; other extended relatives along with his loving NorthSide Church family and friends

A service to celebrate Bill's life will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday, August 17, 2025 at NorthSide Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service, 1:00 - 2:45 pm. Burial will follow at 11:00 am, Tuesday, August 19 at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.