Sylvia Elaine Johnson Cochran was born February 11, 1945, in Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia. A true Georgian, she has lived in Georgia all her life. Both her maternal and paternal families came from Ireland, England, or Wales to Virginia, South and North Carolina, arriving in Georgia in the early 1800's.

Sylia attended elementary school in Moreland, Georgia. She graduated from Newnan High School and attended Young Harris College. Her time there in the North Georgia mountains was when she first fell in love with this area. It was 20 years before she bought a weekend cabin and another 17 years before she moved to Ellijay.

She joined Eastern Air Lines in 1967 where she was employed for 22 years in the Regional Reservations Center. The last 12 years were in Customer Relations. While at Eastern, she took advantage of the generous benefits and traveled extensively. After Eastern closed she was employed at American Express Business Travel managing travel offices for RJR Nabisco, Emory University, and W R Grace Co.

After dating for almost 40 years, on September 4, 1998, Sylvia met the man of her dreams on a blind date. She and Bud Cochran were married February 29, 2020. She retired from American Express the following year and then in 2002 they moved to Ellijay. Her dream was to live in the mountains and Bud's was to travel, and so they did both. They took many cruises and other trips their first 15 years together.

Bud's grandchildren call her "Gamma", and she loved them as her own.

Her passion was wildflowers, and she photographed and identified over 250 species of plants. Genealogy and DNA were a continuing hobby. Sylvia decided to look into DAR when she heard in July 2017, that there was a local chapter organizing. She was very proud to be accepted as an organizing member of the Captain James Kell Chapter of DAR.

Her Patriot is William Dollar, Pvt from VA., born in Wales. He was at the encampment at Valley Forge, PA with George Washington from December 1777 to June 1778. He was 35 years old and ill but survived the conditions and lived to be 95 years old.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 2nd at 2pm at the Hope Lutheran Church in Ellijay, GA.

Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.