WILMINGTON — Patsy Alexander Cochrane, 83, peacefully left this earthly life on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, surrounded by her family. Patsy was born October 30,1941, in Zebulon, North Carolina, to the late Louis Ward and Margie Davis Alexander.
Patsy later moved with her family and grew up in Newton, North Carolina, where her father was the school principal. Patsy played basketball at Newton-Conover High school and was crowned in 1960 as Miss Reunion. She then was a participant in the Miss Newton-Conover Pageant. From high school, Patsy enrolled in Appalachian State University for a brief period. Patsy then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where her parents relocated when her father became the State Director of Transportation for the North Carolina schools. Following this move, she was employed at the Chancellor’s Office at North Carolina State University. It was there where Patsy took a continuing education design course at the School of Textiles that sparked a lifelong love of interior design.
Patsy’s found talent and impeccable taste led to the development of Patsy Cochrane Interior Designs where she put her mark on many homes in the Triangle and surrounding areas. She was instrumental in the design of restaurants, residential, and commercial spaces across the Eastern Seaboard. During her career being a successful interior design consultant, she was once awarded first place in the Parade of Homes in Raleigh, North Carolina. Patsy was strikingly beautiful, and she had many years when she was a freelance fashion model which included runway, showroom, television, publications in newspapers, and magazines. She was employed at Hudson Belk as one of their house models in Raleigh, North Carolina, for many years.
On June 20, 1970, Patsy married the late George Thomas “Tommy” Cochrane III in Raleigh, North Carolina. Patsy and Tommy happily shared 48 years of marriage living in Raleigh, North Carolina, raising their two children, Bill and Beth. During her time in Raleigh, she was a member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. In her later years, Patsy and Tommy left Raleigh and moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, to be closer to their beloved granddaughter Izzy.
Patsy loved fashion and design, but her primary love and interest was her family. Patsy fiercely loved all of those around her and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, godmother, and friend. She was affectionately known to her granddaughter as “Paggy.” Patsy will be remembered as a loving, trusting, and loyal friend to many. She had an infectious and radiant smile reaching far and wide and never met a stranger. Patsy expressed a cheerful, generous, positive, and fun-loving personality, and was always up for a good time with family and friends never wanting to miss out on the fun. There are many fond and memorable moments of fun times spent at the beach. Her beautiful life and spirit will forever be cherished in the hearts of those that loved her.
Patsy was preceded in death by her parents Louis Ward and Margie Davis Alexander, husband George Thomas “Tommy” Cochrane III, mother-in-law Elizabeth “Boo” Hendon Cochrane, and sister Ann Marie Alexander Jarvis.
Patsy is survived by her adored two children William Alexander Cochrane, Elizabeth Cochrane Burgess (Chris), and the love of her life, her granddaughter Isabella “Izzy” Patsy Wren Burgess, all of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is also survived by her godchildren Alison Flaugher (David) of Wrightsville Beach, Susan Flaugher of Wilmington, Maggie Flaugher of New York, Ashley Everett of Kinston, along with her honorary godsons Will Flaugher (Rachel) of Virginia, and Evans Flaugher (Ashley) of Raleigh. Patsy is also survived by her sisters Mary Jones of Raleigh and Susan Gower (Steve) of Kinston, sister-in-law Dorothy Bernholz (Steve) of Charleston, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and granddogs Louis, Rosie, and Ringo.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Lower Cape Fear Lifecare for their compassionate and loving care.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Patsy’s memory online or by mail to Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, N.C., 28401. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 1:00pm. Location of gathering will be at 5026 Heide Drive, Wilmington, N.C., 28403.
