James Edmond Cobb

Beloved Alcoa High School teacher, James Edmond (Jim) Cobb, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2023, at the age of 92.

Mr. Cobb was preceded in death by his parents, Edmond and Ruby Cobb of Florence, Alabama, and sister Fidelia Cobb Campbell. He is survived by his brother, Richard M. Cobb of Tuscaloosa Alabama. He is also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Martha Elizabeth Stewart Cobb.

Mr. Cobb has three sons, Jeffery Edmond Cobb, James Stewart Cobb and John Andrew Cobb, and five grandchildren, Adam Cobb, Erin Cobb, Catherine Cobb, Jasper Cobb, and Andrew Cobb.

 Mr. Cobb was a long-time teacher of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Science at Alcoa Middle and High Schools before retiring in 1994. He coached the Alcoa High School tennis team for many years. James was a loyal member of Alcoa First United Methodist Church since 1969 where he was known for his emotional spirituality. He was a frequent Sunday school teacher while Martha served as church organist for 46 years.

James was born on December 21, 1930, in Florence Alabama and graduated from Coffee High School in Florence in 1949. James was a guard and letterman for the Coffee football team. He attended the University of Alabama where he received his B.Sc. in Chemistry. He supported himself through college while working at Pug’s restaurant in Tuscaloosa. He then served two years as a Lieutenant in the US Army in the mid-1950s. Then he worked as a chemist for Dow Chemical in Texas in the late 1950s before deciding to make a career change to become a teacher. He often said he felt "called" to make this change. His first post was at Bessemer High School in Alabama and then at his Alma Mater, Coffee High in Florence. During this period James spent his summers studying at Purdue University and then Auburn University. Then in 1969 he decided to go to graduate school at UT Knoxville where he and Martha both earned Master's degrees. Besides one year in Huntsville Alabama, Alcoa remained their home for the rest of their lives.

James loved nature and the outdoors and was a lifelong hiker. He was particularly fond of the unmarked trails of Chilhowee Mountain and Whiteoak Sinks. James maintained an adventurous spirit throughout his life. As a teenager he enjoyed exploring the caves of the Coffee Slough near Florence with his friends and later with his younger brother Richard. He was a fearless hitchhiker as a young man. In the early 1950s, to his mother's chagrin, he and his dear friend John Masterson hitched rides to Detroit to work briefly in an auto plant before travelling on to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and back to Florence. In later life, James was a devoted grandfather who loved taking his grandchildren on mini-adventures in nature. After retirement, he and Martha became avid travelers, often to visit their dispersed children and grandchildren.

James will be remembered for his friendly, loving and jovial spirit. Until the end, he loved to tell stories, enjoy a good meal and sing the songs of his youth.

The family is grateful for the loving care that our father received from the staff at Asbury Place Maryville at the end of his life.

A memorial service for James will be held at 3 pm on Saturday June 10, 2023 at Maryville First United Methodist Church, 804 Montvale Station Rd, Maryville, TN 37803. Everyone is welcome! In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association.