Celebration of Life Live Stream:
Events
The Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 starting 11:00AM EST at the Howard University School of Law Dunbarton Chapel, located at 2900 Van Ness St, NW Washington, D.C. 20008. For those unable to attend the service in-person, you can participate remotely by viewing the live stream of the service (please scroll up to see the video).
Order of Service
Obituary
Dr. Paul Anson Cotton was born on September 22, 1960, to the late Anthony Cotton Sr. and the late Cora Mae Cotton. He departed this life on January 27, 2026, following a brief illness surrounded by his wife and loving family.
Paul received his early education in the Chicago public school system where he excelled in academics and sports. He attended Dunbar Vocational High School where he participated on the wrestling team, achieving the title of City Champion in his weight class. After graduating from high school in 1978 he moved to Washington, DC to attend the prestigious Howard University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Following his undergraduate studies, he continued to pursue advanced degrees at Howard University to include his Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition and ultimately his Ph.D. in Nutrition.
Paul’s love and commitment to Howard University lasted throughout the remainder of his life, where he served as a faculty member, the Head Wrestling Coach as well as serving on the Board of Trustees. He regularly attended church services at Howard University’s Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. Paul acknowledged that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
In 1990 Paul met, and later married the love of his life, Phyllis Carter Cotton, a noted Physical Therapist and Massage Therapist. Paul and Phyllis were married at the Chapel of the School of Divinity at Howard University. In 2025 they celebrated 33 years of marriage. Out of this union they had a beautiful daughter, Phylicia Andrea Cotton. The family enjoyed spending time together and shared many years of vacations, family gatherings, and community service.
Paul’s love for his immediate and extended family was demonstrated in his rapid response to any call for assistance from his loved ones. On any given day you could find him resolving computer connectivity issues, installing security systems and devices, or even cutting grass and landscaping. There was never a request for help that was too big or too small for Paul when it came to helping his family.
In 2016, he left NIH and joined the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA’s research agency, as national program leader for public health nutrition. He served as a Director in the Nutrition Division at the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition. He was a leader in applying science-based knowledge to solving complex problems in the food and agricultural sciences. Paul returned to NIH in May 2020, as Lead Program Officer for DECIPHeR in the Health Inequities and Global Health Branch in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science. In 2022 Paul became the new Director of Extramural Research Activities at the National Institute on Minority Health Disparities.
Dr. Cotton was also an Adjunct Professor at Prince Georges Community College where he taught “Introduction to Nutrition” to science and non-science majors, covering digestion, utilization of nutrients, and relationship of diet to disease.
As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Paul was defined by a lifetime of leadership, service, and deep commitment to the brotherhood. He was an active Life Member of the Mu Lambda Chapter in Washington, D.C., and a past president of the Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter.
Paul served as a Grand Inspector General (GIG) 33° of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. He was known as the QUIET giant among men and Masons and exemplified the “Moral Walk” expected of Grand Inspector General.
In addition to his wife, Phyllis, he is survived by his only daughter, Phylicia Andrea Cotton, one brother, Anthony Cotton, Jr., two sisters Carrie Cunningham and Elizabeth Starr-Wall; two sisters-in-law, Thomasine Carter and Mary Carter, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.