After a long and fruitful life, Johnnie L. Cochran, Sr. passed away peacefully at his Los Feliz area home on Sunday, April 29, 2018. He was 101 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Hattie Bass Cochran and sons Johnnie, Jr. (2005), and RaLonzo (1998).
He is survived by his three daughters Pearl Baker (William), Martha Sherrard (Fredric), daughter-in-law Sylvia Dale Cochran, eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and an extended family of many.
Johnnie was born in Caspiana, Louisiana to Hannah and Alonzo Cochran. In 1937 he married Hattie Bass. Together they established a home in Shreveport, Louisiana where their first three children Johnnie, Pearl and Martha Jean were born. Their youngest son RaLonzo, was born in Los Angeles.
In 1943 the family re-located to California establishing residence in San Francisco before settling in Los Angeles where Johnnie continued his illustrious career in the insurance industry. He retired from full-time employment in 1981 after serving as an executive with the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company.
In his post retirement, Johnnie continued consulting in insurance, real estate sales, and estate planning. His community services included working with the Hattie B. Cochran Humanitarian Services, Inc., Second Baptist Church, the Central Avenue YMCA, and the Boys Club.
Services to be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018, 11am, at Second Baptist Church, 2412 Griffith Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90011.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the memory of Johnnie L. Cochran, Sr, to one of the following:
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Attn: KC Miller
8700 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 2416
Los Angeles, California 90048
(323) 866-6748
Memory of Johnnie L. Cochran, Sr. – “Campaign for the Brain” –
or online at: https://giving.cedars-sinai.edu/brain-trust/make-a-gift
Loyola Law School
Attn: Advancement Office
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 736-8153
“Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Family Scholarship” or the
“Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Chair in Civil Rights”
or online at: lls.edu/give
