William Newell Cook, Sr., age 89 of Clarkesville, passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2018.
Born in Fulton County, Georgia on December 24, 1928, he was a son of the late William Lorin and Sallie Fannie Gallman Cook. Mr. Cook was a retired sheet metal worker with Local 85 in Atlanta. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, having served in various roles, for 61 years. He was baptized around age 9 in the Tallulah River at Tallulah Gorge. Mr. Cook was very family oriented, and as such, he devoted much time and effort to his family. He especially cared for children and his love for them extended beyond his own children. This prompted many years of foster parenting which involved over 200 foster children. In addition, he was also a foster parent for the Indian Student Placement Program. Mr. Cook was also a volunteer fireman, a mechanic, an herbalist and a farmer. As such, he enjoyed gardening along with camping, hunting and fishing in his spare time.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Alma Odessa Gold Cook and a brother, Kenneth Lamar Cook.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Melinda Padgett Cook of Clarkesville; son and daughter-in-law, William Newell “Billy” Cook, Jr. (Kathy) of Heflin, Alabama; daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia Anne Cook Taylor (Thomas) of Gainesville, Sandra Elaine Cook Carrin (Paul) of Stockbridge, Deborah Lynn Cook McEwan (Alan) of West Haven, Utah and Melissa Dawn Cook Gunn (Rodney) of Clarkesville; stepsons, Preston Hammond of New York and Jonathan Hammond of Provo, Utah; step daughters and spouses, Stephanie Martin (Frank) of Douglasville and Rachel Hammond (Will French) of Martinsburg, West Virginia; 34 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services are 10:30 am on Saturday, August 4, 2018, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 205 Dennis Cash Road, Mt. Airy, Georgia 30563 with Bishop Clay Thomas officiating. Interment will follow at 3:30pm in the Godbee-Godby Family Cemetery, 5640 Old National Highway, College Park, Georgia 30349.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Friday, August 3, 2018 at Ogletree Estates, 220 Paradise Park Road, Cornelia, Georgia 30531 and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgahee-griffinand stewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
