

  <p>Cochran, Vanessa Maria</p>
  <p>Passed: 2014-10-12</p>
  <p>Age: 51</p>


  <p>Source: Ravenswood News</p>

  <p>Death Notice: </p>

  <p>Obituary Date: 2014-10-16</p>
  <p>Information: Vanessa Maria Cochran, of Ravenswood WV, lost her battle with cancer October 12, 2014 in the Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus OH, eight days after her 51st birthday.  She was born October 4, 1963, in Parkersburg WV, a daughter of Ted and Eva Marie (VanHoose) Cochran of Ravenswood.  At the age of two her parents noticed she would sing herself to sleep.  When she turned eight, her dad started a band with Vanessa&#39;s older brothers and sister.  Vanessa became the lead singer.  The group performed at church activities at Charleston and Ravenswood, West Virginia.  As time passed, the band separated and went their own way, Vanessa then started performing solo at church events, fundraisers, weddings and funerals.  She was a Ravenswood High School graduate and received a B.A. in Music Education from Glenville State College.  She taught music for 28 years in Raleigh, Mason and Wood counties, most recently at the Greenmont Elementary in Vienna, and Martin Elementary School in Parkersburg.         She was a former violinist for the Ohio Valley Orchestra, and was a former Miss Ohio Valley, and was named most photogenic in the Miss West Virginia Pageant.  Vanessa was also an artist and the Cochran family home is full of her wonderful paintings and drawings.  In 1988, Vanessa recorded her first gospel album titled ""I Walk By Faith"", not knowing she had Hodgkin&#39;s Disease.  During that time she went through radiation treatments, her songs were being played on radio stations around the state.  In 1993 she made a come back, being in remission from her cancer.  She recorded a second album ""Pure Magic"", a country album with music written by friends and family.  She performed on telethons to help the sick, jubilees, fairs and 4th of July celebrations throughout WV and KY.  She then recorded an album ""O That I Were An Angel"" produced by Dick McVey and performed live on the Grand Ole Opry.  In 1997 she produced a new album titled ""One Starry Night"" a Christmas album where she performed all the music instrumentals herself.  Then in 1998, she recorded the album ""Jesus Is the Key"".  The last song she recorded was with Hip Hop artist Big Rich Tha Don. Big Rich Tha Don contacted her through her brother and wanted to do a song with her.  She agreed and the song ""I Will Always"" was recorded over the internet, never meeting the hip hop singer himself.  She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Marietta Ward, and Ravenswood Branch.         In addition to her parents, other survivors include her brothers, Marshall Cochran (Audrey) of Arbuckle WV and Ted Derek Cochran (Karen) of Ravenswood; sister, Mercatrena Cochran Nelson (Stephen) of Statts Mills; several nieces and nephews; and all her students whom she referred to as ""my children"".  Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, October 18, at Casto Funeral Home Chapel, Ravenswood WV, with Bishop Richard D. Gray of the Marietta, Ohio Ward officiating.  Burial will follow in Independence Cemetery, Sandyville.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to Cancer Treatment Centers of America at www.gatewaycr.org, or (888) 221-2873.  Email condolences may be sent to castofh@gmail.com.</p>


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