Barbara “Babs” Lucas Cocks, 96, of Kennett Square, died peacefully in the company of her family on Thursday, Nov. 26, at Linden Hall of the Kennett Friends Home after a full and vibrant life. She was the wife of the late Racing Hall of Fame trainer W. Burling “Burley” Cocks of Old Westbury, Long Island who died in 1998 and with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.
Babs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 1, 1919 to Gerald Brinton Lucas and Adelaide Loughead Lucas. She spent her youth at Midstream Farm in Paoli, where she cultivated her love of country pursuits – particularly a love of horses. She studied at Agnes Irwin School where she demonstrated athletic prowess in lacrosse and field hockey. In the summers, she could be found enjoying time with family and friends on the rocks of Maine with many treasured memories created at “Spouting Horn” in Cape Neddick.
Immediately following their wedding, Babs and Burley moved to a homestead at Fay Ingalls’ farm in Hot Springs, Va. to pursue Burley’s career as s trainer of steeplechase race horses. They returned to Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1945 and made their permanent home at Hermitage Farm in 1947.
Under the Cocks racing colors of maroon and gold, Babs and Burley established an impressive training facility at Hermitage Farm with a mile track and thirty stalls. While Burley was regarded as a master of horsemanship and a mentor to many in his field, Babs was an integral part of the operation's success. In addition to her roles as the bookkeeper and business manager, Babs could often be found out galloping the "fussy horses" or preparing a feast on any given night for every hungry mouth on the farm – the six in the family, numerous jockeys and trainers-in-training that lived at the farm, and anyone else who dropped in.
A gardening enthusiast, devoted parishioner and choir alto at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, life-long volunteer at the American Red Cross, and a professional tennis enthusiast, Babs left no time on this earth wasted.
Babs was predeceased by one brother, two sisters, her husband and her daughter, Susan Cocks Small Jones. Babs is survived by three children - Barbara Cocks Vannote and her life partner, Hall Snyder, of Kennett Square, Jessie Cocks of Kennett Square, and William “Winky” & Candi Cocks of Camden, S.C.; eight grandchildren — Susannah Small, Michaela Small Raine, Jessica Moutenot-Small, Alexandria Cocks Arnold, Sarah Cocks, E. Burling Cocks, R. Lewis Vannote and Burling C. Vannote; and 11 great grandchildren. All will remember her with great affection.
Her last year of life was spent in the exceptional care of the staff at Linden Hall of the Friends Home in Kennett – many of whom she considered to be her dear friends.
Babs’ life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Friday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Advent: 401 N. Union St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. Interment will be held privately at London Grove Friends Cemetery before the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Friends Home in Kennett (147 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, http://fhkennett.org), National Steeplechase Foundation (400 Fair Hill Drive, Elkton, MD 21921, http://nationalsteeplechasefoundation.org/cms) or the American Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org).
Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com
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