Dr. Cockrell was born in Savannah, Tennessee in 1955. She graduated in 1973 from Central High School in Selmer, Tennessee. She attended Memphis State University. She completed her BS and received her Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry at Memphis, Tennessee in 1981.

Dr. Cockrell has been in private practice in Stillwater since 1981. She is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, Oklahoma Optometric Foundation, American Optometric Association, The American Optometric Associations Contact Lens Section(Charter Member), The Heart of America Contact Lens and Primary Care Congress, and The Southwest Council of Optometry. She served as the charter president for the Oklahoma Optometric Foundation.

Dr. Cockrell has been very active in the community having served on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the United Way, and Stillwater Group Homes (charter member). She is also very active in the educational system having served in many PTA roles including President. She also serves as a consultant to the Oklahoma State Athletic Department. She is married to Dr. David Cockrell and they have 2 children.