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The Cockrum Circuit was formed with four churches:

Cockrum, Greenleaf, Palestine, and Mt. Olivet (Independence). Later, Hebron Church was added to this Circuit.

Cockrum Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1835. The present site and cemetary lots were deeded to the General Conference , Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1870 by Mr. A.G. Sandridge and his wife Eliza. A second sanctuary was built in 1903 under the supervision of Reverend R.P. Goar.

In 1907, the building was hit by a tornado leaving only the organ, water pitcher, pews, and bible intact. A third building was erected later that same year.

Educational rooms were added to the structure in 1950 and 1951. And then in 1957, the building was replaced with a brick structure.

The charge line changed to coincide with the Tate-DeSoto County line. This left the Cockrum Church out of the original charge. As a result, in 1959, Fountain Head, Emory and Cockrum were placed within the reformed Cockrum Charge.

A basement Fellowship Hall was added in the early 60's. In the late 60's, The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church united to form The United Methodist Church. We accordingly became Cockrum United Methodist Church.

In 1976, the building was struck by lightning and burned. By the end of the year, the congregation was holding its first service within the current structure.

Emory later dropped out of the charge and was replaced by Lewisburg. Lewisburg also dropped out at one point, but eventually was added back in. Fountain Head has since dropped from the charge.

In 2004, a Family Life Center was constructed. It houses a commercial kitchen, meeting space, and activity areas.

Most recently, Northwest Mississippi Community College has been added to the Cockrum Charge.

Compiled from the files of the late Mrs. J.J. Clayton as well as "A Brief History of Cockrum United Methodist Church" presented during the 1977 Open House commemorating the triumph over the 1976 fire, and the Historical Page of "Our Cockrum Heritage Cookbook", 1968-1991; additional notes provided by David Pierce in 2005.