John Allen Cobb

John Allen Cobb, affectionately called "Jazz" by his family, was born August 30, 1953 in New York City. He was the youngest son of Dorothy George Cobb and John Cobb. He was not a stranger to adversity as he lost his mother tragically in August 1955, just before his second birthday. His father died shortly after her. He was then entrusted to the care of his maternal grandmother, Ursula Testamark George, who passed away suddenly when John was five.

His uncle, Lawrence George, became his legal guardian and raised him to adulthood. His uncle predeceased him in 2011. His older brother Anthony Cobb also predeceased him in death in 2016. Jazz attended elementary and junior high school in Harlem before his uncle moved the family to Brooklyn, NY. He then attended Wingate High School.

Despite adversity in his teens and early 20s, Jazz always appeared to be happy and greeted everyone with a smile or a playful grin and loved telling jokes. He had a great love of music. He played the drums and often could be found listening to his favorite, James Brown, and doing his favorite dance steps. He was also an avid lover of dogs and all of his dogs loved him even more.

In his mid-20s, he lived with his aunt Marilyn Testamark Salley, her husband Terry Salley and their three daughters. He came to consider her Ma who preceded him in death in 2019 and always referred to the girls as Sis.

He married Mary Johnson in 1983, his true life partner, and helped her raise her son Jonathan. They bought a house in Queens, NY where they spent most of their marriage. The two were inseparable.

Jazz worked as a custodial engineer and supervisor at Antioch Baptist Church in Queens until he retired. He also worked for a time at the Department of Sanitation and Brooklyn Technical College. John and Mary moved to Raeford, NC after he retired and they were active members of Rockfish Church in Raeford, NC. John and Mary studied to be Chaplains and together spent many hours in the hospital praying for the sick. Although he was challenged with throat cancer, he never complained about anything and was able to overcome it due to his strong faith.

John left us on July 4th in Fayetteville, NC after he had gone missing for several days.

John is survived by his wife Mary, stepson Jonathan, his mother-in-law Mary Johnson Boyd, brother Ulric Cobb, his nieces Sharon Cobb-Tartt, Gail English Brown, Donna English, nephew Tyrone Brown (Maria), nephew Anton, uncle Terry Salley, and his first cousins whom he considered his sisters, Joanne Greene, Stephanie Greene, Cheryl George,Terrell Salley-Holliman, Stacey Salley-Proctor and Towanda Salley. He is also survived by his goddaughter Kaya and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

John will be laid to rest in Raeford Cemetery on Monday, July 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM. Graveside services will be officiated by Pastor Eric Gray.

The family gives thanks for all the prayers and well wishes during this difficult time.

Arrangements for the family are entrusted to LaFayette Funeral Home of Fayetteville, NC. On-line condolences may be made at www.lafayettefh.com