Background
Cocke was born at Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia where his father, Charles Lewis Cocke was founder and president His mother was Susanna Pleasants, a cousin of Virginia governor James Pleasants.
Cocke was born at Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia where his father, Charles Lewis Cocke was founder and president His mother was Susanna Pleasants, a cousin of Virginia governor James Pleasants.
Student Richmond (Virginia) College, 1873-1876. Bachelor of Arts, Washington and Lee University, 1878. Bachelor of Laws, University of Virginia, 1881.
His early education was under the tutelage of Hollins College professors. He attended law school at the University of Virginia and upon graduating set up his own practice. In 1884 he joined into a partnership in Richmond forming the firm Penn & Cocke, after the retirement of Penn he formed a new partnership in Cocke & Glasgow.
He was the first Democrat elected mayor of Roanoke, Virginia.
From 1924 to 1928 he served as rector and trustee of his alma mater Washington & Lee. In private life he was an avid author of works on the law, history and genealogy periodically contributing to the Virginia Historical Society and the William & Mary Quarterly.
He and Smith had four children. They had no children.
People need not just to accept but also to grow in relationship with God. God's grace and love constantly prompts and seeks to transform people, and so they should continually seek and pray to grow in holiness and love.
Member Penn & Cocke, 1884-1895, Cocke & Glasgow, 1896-1904.
Married Lelia M., daughter Married second, Mistress. Children: Charles Francis, Mistress William H. Goodwin, Mistress South. K. Funkhouser, Lucian H.