Jackie Cosden, Sr.

Mabel “Ninny” Strong and Raymond Saunders welcomed their son, Jackie Cosden Sr., into the world on February 17, 1948. Jackie transitioned on December 30, 2024. His daughters, Melaney Scott Cosden and Crystal Moody, were by his side during his final days.

Jackie Cosden, Sr. aka “Gooby” was named after his grandfather, Jack “Gooby” Cosden. As a child, his grandfather became his lifetime male role model. His grandfather instilled in him the most critical values in life: to respect his elders, to be kind, to love everybody, to say, “thank you” and “yes ma’am”, “no sir”- to hold a door open for a female and to give the elderly his seat on the bus. 

Jackie was taught to work hard and to do a job well, to help those in need and to do it with a humble heart. Jackie never liked seeing someone hurting and when he did, he always tried to console them. He encouraged “Peace.” His smile was contagious, and he was a gentleman to the end. Jackie lived by these Christian values all the days of his life and he did so with a continuous and contagious smile. These values allowed him to be loved by everybody. Jackie Cosden, Sr. stood out as a gentleman till the end. 

Jackie lived an active life and was always ready to embrace new opportunities. During his time at Wilmington High School, he played on the basketball team as the number #15. After graduating, he joined the US Army and fought in the Vietnam War for the rights of those he loved. Upon returning to Delaware, he attended Delaware Technical & Community College, where he majored in accounting. He found employment as an accountant with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). After retiring from the IRS, Jackie worked part-time as a security guard at the Wilmington Library and various other locations. In his most recent years, he freelanced by driving his senior peers wherever they needed to go.

Jackie was a strategic thinker who made it difficult for his peers to beat him in Pinochle and impossible to beat him in chess. He was a member of the West Street Chess Club and every year he took the Trophy which gained him the local title of “The Black Bobby Fisher” aka “The Black Chess King”. Jackie loved listening to his soul music and was able to build a huge selection of oldie albums and tapes from the 60’s and 70’s. When the warm months came, Jackie would hit the road on his motorcycle with the rest of the West Street Chess Club members. He loved to barbeque and watch people he loved have a good time.

Jackie Cosden, Sr. is preceded in death by his Grandparents, Rebecca (Ella Mae) Johnson and Jack “Gooby” Cosden, his parents, Mabel Strong and Raymond Saunders Sr., his brother, James Saunders Jr., his sons Samuel Maurice Cosden, and Jackie Cosden, Jr. and his beloved stepdaughter, Darlene Hollis.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his daughters, Melaney Scott-Cosden (Reuben Louis Jean), Crystal Moody, stepson; Edward Nathaniel Johnson (Donna Lisa Johnson), daughter-in-law; Rozanna Bordrick, grandchildren Aubrey Bing, Autumn Scott, Kacey Cosden, Jackie I. Cosden III, Tyrone V. Moody, Michael A. Moody, Acha A. Moody, and Christopher S. Moody, stepsisters, stepbrothers, and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members. 

A heartfelt tribute to the tenants of Luther Towers. May you all cherish his smile, kindness, and love as you shared in his golden years.