Virnelle Cookingham

COOKINGHAM, VIRNELLE Chelsea, MI
Formerly of Roanoke, MO, Chicago, IL, Monroe, MI. Age 95, died Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Chelsea Retirement Community. Born December 15, 1916, she was the daughter of Asa Milton Craig and Martha Green Craig. Graduating from high school in Armstrong, MO, Virnelle received an B.A. degree from Central Methodist College in Fayette, MO in 1939. That summer, she attended Scarritt College in Nashville, TN on a scholarship, and then worked for four years in Missouri Public Schools. In 1946, she received a M.A. degree from Washington University, St. Louis, MO. She was married to Dr. Fred A. Voss from 1951 until his death in 1977. In 1995, she married Rev. Charles W. Cookingham, who passed away in 2007. Her early career as a social worker included serving on the Social Service Commission in St. Louis, MO, working as a medical social worker and professor in the Illinois University College of Medicine, and as a field instructor in the University of Chicago Social Service Administration. In addition, she served as a field instructor with the University of Michigan's School of Social Work, and was a founding partner of Monroe's first Child and Family Services Agency in 1966. Virnelle was a member of the Monroe County Historical Society and Eastern Star, as well as president of the Monroe Garden Club. While her children were young, she was very involved in their lives - imparting to them her strong moral values, generosity of spirit, and a love of knowledge and music, and helping them pursue their own interests. Combining her love of traveling with family activities, she also served as president of the Monroe Century Trailer Club. In the 1970's, she helped her husband, Dr. Voss, found the Monroe Antique Car Club. As a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Monroe, she served as a lay delegate to the Detroit Annual Conference. She was the first woman lay leader of her church, a teacher of the youth class, and a member of the church's administrative board. As a resident of the Chelsea United Methodist Retirement Community, she volunteered in the post office and library, and assisting with church services. Her awards for community service included a listing in Who's Who in American Women in the West, Person of the Year Award presented by the Monroe Council of Churches, and the Business and Professional Women's Good Citizen Award. She is survived by her children, Linda Voss of Monroe, Martha (Robert) Zink of Sheffield Village, OH, Charles (Linda) Voss of LaSalle, MI, Fred Voss of Ypsilanti; her grandchildren, Craig, Anthony, Fred Jr., Kevin, and Andrew. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 26, 1:30 p.m. at Chelsea Retirement Community Main Chapel. Burial will take place at Chelsea Retirement Community Memorial Gardens, and Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Monroe. Memorial contributions may be made to Heritage Foundation at Chelsea Retirement Community. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.