James Henry Pruden, 76, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at Kindred Transitional Care (Nansemond Pointe). He was a native of Suffolk and the son of Mary E. Jones and the late Horace Pruden Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Cotton Pruden; son, Rico Allen Cotton; and sister, Silveria Jones.

He retired as a stage builder at Newport News Shipyard.

He leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Mischell D. Cotton, of Suffolk, Shameike Pruden Carter (Leonard), of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Linda Cloverton, of Virginia; five sons, Bradford “Larry” Cotton (Lisa), of Suffolk, Ahmod Rashad Pruden, of Chesapeake, James H. Pruden Jr., of Hampton; two sisters, Judy Boone (Eugene) and Candy Perry, both of Suffolk; brothers, Edward Pruden (Rubia), Wallace Pruden (Dorothy), both of Connecticut, and Randy Jones, of Suffolk, Tyrone Staten and Stephens Staten, of New York; six grandchildren, Darryl I. Cotton, Bradford L. Cotton Jr., Shakyra M. Cotton, Jakhyla Ashburn, Shayla Carter and Jaden Carter; sisters-in-law, Barbara Cotton Newby, of Suffolk, Anetta Johnson Graham (Larry), of Clinton, Md., and Mary Johnson Chambliss (Lee), of Suffolk; three brothers-in-law, Irvian Cotton, of Greenville, Sherman Johnson, of Suffolk, and Kent Johnson, of Chesapeake; a devoted friend, Charlie Riddick; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, at Antioch UCC officiated by the Rev. Jarvis Jones. Interment will be in Carver Memorial Cemetery. A visitation will be Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Crocker Funeral Home. The family will receive family and friends at 228 Locust St., Suffolk. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.