Robert "RC" Cotton

ARITON…Mr. Robert “R.C.” Cotton, a resident of Ariton, died early Wednesday morning, May 6, 2026, in a Dothan hospital. He was 72.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, May 8, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Derek Snellgrove officiating. Burial will follow in Tabernacle Methodist Cemetery in the Bald Hill Community, near Hartford. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Cotton, the son of the late Charles B. Cotton and Maudie B. Bowman, was born in Geneva County and spent his earliest years surrounded by the familiar fields and dirt roads of home. When he was still young, his family moved to the Ariton area of Coffee County, where he grew up and built many of the friendships and memories that stayed with him throughout his life.

His early adult life, he lived in Midland City, owning and operating Tri State Painting. He later moved to Lake City, Florida, working as a truck driver with his brother, William and nephew, Bobby, also painting during that time. He enjoyed the open road and the independence that came with it, but his heart eventually pulled him back to Ariton, the place he always considered home. Once back in Alabama, he put his hands and his talent to work, owning and operating RC Painting Company until his death. He took pride in a job well done and built a reputation for being dependable, skilled, and honest.

Mr. Cotton was a true Alabama boy at heart. He loved the Crimson Tide and rarely missed a chance to cheer them on. Saturdays in the fall were sacred, and he enjoyed every minute of the excitement. He was also a big NASCAR fan, the kind who knew the drivers, the tracks, and the stories behind the sport. Whether it was football or racing, he loved the thrill of competition and the joy of rooting for his favorites.

But more than anything else, he loved being with the people who mattered to him. Time spent with family and friends was what brought him the most happiness. Whether it was a simple visit, a shared meal, or just sitting around talking, he treasured those moments deeply.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, William Cotton, Clara Adams, Emma Whitehead, Wallace Cotton, and Patricia Cotton.

Surviving relatives include his daughter, Pamela Watson (Matt), Brundidge; son, Robby Cotton (Deni), Hartford; two brothers, Jim Cotton (Frances), Foley and Charles Cotton (Cathy), Louisiana; seven grandchildren, Weston Watson, Callie Ryan Cotton, Auburn Watson, Jack Watson, Cohen Watson, Cayden Skinner (Matthew), and Jaxon Hess.