Mrs. Mary Jane Alford Cochran Arnette entered into eternal rest on Sunday, October 20, 2013 in the McLeod Regional Hospital in Florence, South Carolina. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. from the Manning Baptist Church in Dillon, South Carolina with the Reverend Patsy Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Hill A.M.E. Church Cemetery.

I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way." Exodus 23:20

Mary J. Alford Cochran Arnette , daughter of the late Alexander Alford, Sr., and Anna Bethea Alford was born in Dillon County on Devember 3, 1925. "M.J." or "Guga," as she was affectionately called, was the nineth of eleven children. She departed this life peacefully on October 20, 2013 at McLeod Medical Center, Florence, South Carolina.

She received her early education in Dillon County and later attended Voorhees College, Denmark, South Carolina, graduating from Allen University,Columbia, South Carolina. She was a long and faithful member of Pine Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church, Latta, South Carolina. She was also a member of the Order of Easter Star, Bright Star of the Valley #217, Little Rock, South Carolina; NAACP; and the Criterion Club, Inc. Dillon, South Carolina. She worked as a practical nurse in Brooklyn, New York, but spent the majority of her career as a educator. She retired after 42 years as an elementary school teacher in Dillon County.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Robert H. Arnette, and four sisters and five brothers: Annie Mae Rodgers, Ann Johnson, James Edward "Bubba" Alford, Alexander "Jenny Boy" Alford Jr., TJ Alford, Robert Alford, Edmona "Baby" "Aunt Duh" Mckenzie Douet; John Earl "Brother" Alford, and Elizabeth Alford.

She leaves to mourn and cherish loving memories, her son Anthony B. Cochran (Joyce), Brooklyn, New York; daughter Robin L. Arnette, Durham, North Carolina; her sisters Pensacola A. Smith and Dorothy A. Bethea of Dillon, South Carolina; granddaughters Erica D. Cochran Hameen (Najeeb), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Anita C. Cochran of Alexandria, Virginia, Ashleigh Nichols, Brooklyn, New York; and Ajua M. Arnette, of Durham, North Carolina; sisters-in-law Bertha Alford Davis, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Minnie Alford, Passaic, New Jersey; Ester McEachern, Baltimore, Maryland; Doris Nance, Lake View, South Carolina; and Ann Pittman, Baltimore, Maryland; and a host  of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She also leaves to mourn special friends Michael and Diane Stewart, Johnny "Pig" Allen, Dillon, South Caolina; Kathleen McBryde, Latta, South Carolina; co-workers, and friends too many to name.

Final Resting Place: Pine Hill A.M.E.Church Cemetry