On Wednesday March 19, 2014, Rico Allen Cotton departed this life at Chesapeake Regional Hospital in Chesapeake. He was born Oct. 16, 1969, to James Henry Pruden and the late Betty Cotton Pruden.

He was a graduate of Forest Glen High School. He worked as a correctional officer at Southampton Correctional Facility.

He leaves to cherish and perpetuate his memory his sisters, Mischell Cotton, of Suffolk, Shameike Carter (Leonard), of Duluth, Ga.; two brothers; Larry Cotton (Liza), of Suffolk, Ahmod Pruden, of Suffolk; nieces, ShaKyra Cotton, Jakhyla Asburn and Shayla Carter; nephews, Darryl Cotton, Bradford Larry Cotton Jr. and Jaiden Carter; lifelong friend, Katrina Britt Reynolds; former wife, Tonya Batten; current companion, Joyce Goodman. Special thanks to Calvin and Joyce Riddick.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at New Paul Temple Holiness Church. Interment will be in Carver Memorial Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.