Carla Chenell Cotton was born February 15, 1979, to the late Marilyn (Sue) Johnson and Otis James "Chubby" Jones.  She was born in Bolivar County, MS.  She was the 4th of 4 children.

She was married to the SSG Willie Darnell Cotton for 20 years and 2 children were born to that union.  She accepted Christ at an early age at United Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Sammie Rash.

She was a 1997 graduate of Mighty East Side High School.

She loved her family, she was preceded in death by her parents, Marilyn (Sue) Johnson and Otis James "Chubby" Jones, her twin brother Carl Hollingsworth and her father-in-law Rev. Willie Jean Cotton.

She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, 2 daughters, an adopted daughter, and a bonus son:  SSG Willie Cotton, Carlmessiya Cotton, Brianna Cotton, Journee Hollingsworth, and Jamarius Hollingsworth all of Murfreesboro, TN, Mother-in-Law Minister Mamie Cotton-Brown (Rev. Willie J. Brown) LA, Brothers, Ronnie Hollingsworth (Cleveland, MS), Otis Hollingsworth (Gulfport, MS), Ced Lacey (Calhoun, GA), sisters, Lawanika Moore (Cleveland, MS) and Kimberley Jones (Cleveland, MS); Paternal grandmother: Annie Mae Jones (Cleveland, MS) brother-in-law William (Ebony) Cotton Cordova, TN, sister-in-law Denise Winston (Hollandale, MS) and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.