Veryl Garland Cockey

Veryl Garland Cockey passed away surrounded by her children on July 25, 2025.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 28, 2025 at 11:00 am at Colquitt Methodist Church, with Reverand Scott Stanfill and Reverand Carrie Harper-Myers officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 until 10:45 am at Colquitt Methodist Church.

Serving as pallbearers will be Brooks Garland, Patterson Allen, Hunter Allen, Max O’Neil, Theo O’Neil, Fitz O’Neil, Cross Kingsbury, and Alec Kingsbury.

Veryl was born February 23, 1942 in Colquitt, Georgia to Brooks Sheffield and Annie Laura Smith Sheffield. She graduated from Miller County High School in Colquitt, Georgia in 1960 as an Honor graduate and the Outstanding Home Economics Student. Veryl’s love of home economics earned the Betty Crocker Homemaker of America Award which was awarded in Chicago, Illinois. Years later she earned an associate’s degree in accounting which served her well as she established her career in banking. Veryl decided on a career change where she excelled with volunteer recruitment and fund raising with Easter Seals and The American Heart Association. Veryl’s last, and most enjoyable, job was with the Colquitt Miller County Chamber of Commerce for over 10 years as Executive Director. She thoroughly enjoyed working with different businesses, volunteers, the Mayhaw Festival, and Miss Mayhaw Beauty Pageant. She was a member of Colquitt Methodist Church. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Colquitt Miller Arts Council, Downtown Development Authority and RCDC in Camilla, Georgia.

Veryl was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She loved her family and friends well and always had a word of encouragement. She was a great mentor to many within the community and always had a smile on her face. She faced medical issues for 64 years of her life but always remained positive and fought hard to stay healthy.

Veryl met a love of her life as a teenager. She married the late Billy Garland on June 25, 1960 and to this union a son, Gerald, and a daughter, Julie, were born. Years later, she married the last love of her life, John Cockey. They were happily married for 22 years. They shared five children: Gerald (Jennifer) Garland, Julie (Dan) Allen, Lisa (Darryl) Myers, Lydia (Troy) Kingsbury, Suzanne (Ken Price), and Abby O’Neil. They shared nine grandchildren: Brooks (Sarah Kathryn) Garland, Patterson (Ciarra) Allen, Hunter Allen, Max O’Neil, Cross Kingsbury, Theo O’Neil, Alec Kingsbury, Fitz O’Neil and the late Beth Garland. Great grandchildren Brookley, Greer, George Henry Garland and Emma Allen. One Brother, Bill (Angie) Sheffield of Winter Haven, FL.,  and two sisters, Alice Cobb and Peggy Chambers both of Colquitt,   She was preceded in death by her parents Brooks and Ann Sheffield, her husband Billy Garland and her granddaughter, Beth Garland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Colquitt Methodist Church in Colquitt, Georgia.