Alex Monroe Cottingham, age 91, of Clio, SC, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, after an extended illness.

Monroe was born on December 3, 1931, in Laurel Hill, NC. He was the son of the late Alex Sinclair Cottingham and Myrtle Livingston Cottingham. Monroe was a 1950 graduate of Dillon High School. After graduation, he worked on his father’s farm. Upon receiving his draft notice, Monroe enlisted in the United States Air Force. After completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, he was transferred to Fort Sam Huston and then to March Air Force Base in Riverside, California where he received training to be a medic in the Air Force. Monroe was then assigned to Lakenheath Air Force Base in England. After completion of his military duty, Monroe returned to help his father on his farm. In 1956, Monroe (Alex) was employed by the Mohasco Corporation at Dixiana Mill in Dillon, SC, where he worked as a supervisor until his retirement. On June 30, 1961, Monroe married Elizabeth Anne (Fiffy) Covington, and they resided in Clio, SC.
Monroe was a founding member of Trinity Methodist Men in Clio and served as secretary of the Methodist Men for many years. While he was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, he served on various committees, including the finance committee, and he served as a trustee. At the time of his death, Monroe was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Bennettsville, SC.
In his younger years, Monroe enjoyed hunting birds and playing tennis, men’s softball, and golf. Monroe continued to play golf with friends until his health began to fail at the age of 85. Monroe enjoyed watching many sports. He especially enjoyed watching his own children and the neighborhood kids play various sports in his backyard. He rarely missed watching a game when his son Steve and his daughter Carla played various sports at Marlboro Academy. He also enjoyed watching his granddaughters Cara and Laura play soccer and tennis. Later in life, Monroe also continued to enjoy watching the youth play various sports at Marlboro Academy.
The family is appreciative of the friends and family who made Monroe’s life so much richer over the years. The family gives a special thanks to his caregiver Emma Heffner who provided so much care, support, and friendship through his illness. The family also gives special thanks to the members of First Presbyterian Church in Bennettsville and to Rev. Dr. Scott Andrews who provided spiritual guidance and friendship. The family is also grateful for the staff of Agape Hospice of South Carolina and for the staff of Center Well Home Health in Cheraw, especially for his physical therapist Kim Quick Connors. In addition to his parents, Monroe was preceded in death by his son Steve in 1982 and by his sister Colleen Plummer in 2010.
Monroe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Anne Covington Cottingham of the home; daughter Carla Cottingham Shuler (Wayne) of Irmo, SC; two granddaughters, Cara McKay (Alex) of Columbia, SC and Laura Shuler of Alexandria, VA.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church in Bennettsville. Burial will follow at Hebron Cemetery in Clio. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made in Monroe’s memory to First Presbyterian Church of Bennettsville (P.O. Box 627, Bennettsville, SC 29512) or to Epworth Children’s Home (P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250) or to Marlboro Academy (1035 Bennettsville Fire Tower Road, Bennettsville, SC 29512).
Online condolences may be made to www.bfhbennettsville.com.
Burroughs Funeral Home is honored to assist the Cottingham family.