Iverson Branch "Iverson" Cook

Iverson Branch Cook, daughter of the late Iverson and Thomas B. Branch, Jr., passed away on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

She was born on October 29, 1939, in Atlanta, GA. A true native Atlantan, she grew up in Ansley Park and attended Spring Street Elementary School. As a teenager, she danced with the Atlanta Ballet Company and modeled for Rich's and Davidson's department stores. She graduated from The Westminster Schools and matriculated at the University of Georgia where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

While in high school, she met her best friend and love of her life, Ben Cook, who was a sophomore at the Georgia Institute of Technology. They married upon his graduation, and it was the start of 61 loving years together. They had three children, Minna, Connie, and Ben. Raising them was her top priority and the accomplishment of which she was most proud.

After her children were grown, she worked with Cobb County Elections and Registration for over 20 years and was on the Board of Elections for nine years. For almost 18 years she worked at Stein Mart as a Boutique Lady who modeled in fashion shows and built a roster of regular customers. This was a natural career choice for Iverson, known for her style, grace, Southern drawl and charm, and signature red lipstick.

As early members of The Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Iverson and Ben were instrumental in the building of the church from the ground up. She served as President of the E.C.W, was on the vestry, and was the first female senior warden. Over the past 20 years, she was an active member of Christ Church in Atlanta.

She was past president and long-time member of The Gardenia Garden Club in Atlanta, and her green thumb was evident everywhere she lived. For years, she enjoyed volunteer work with her husband through the BellSouth Telephone Pioneers and forged many great friendships along the way.

She especially treasured the friendships of her lunch group, high school friends who met monthly for 45 years. Her former neighborhood of Gant Quarters/Millbrook Farms was home to many lasting friendships, including her bridge group, ROGG group, and dinner club. She also treasured her birthday club and breakfast girls, as well as her neighborhood circle friends.

Iverson excelled at entertaining. Not a holiday went by without her impeccable decorating and culinary expertise. She was skilled at making parties seem effortless with a focus on her guests and creating memories. Her family was her greatest joy, and she cherished every moment they could all be together.

She is survived by three children: Minna Gioia (Brad), Nashville, TN; Connie Forestner (David), Roswell, GA; Ben Cook, Jr., Atlanta, GA; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren; brother Tom Branch, IV (Trudi), Atlanta.

A celebration of life service will be held in the Georgian Room at Peachtree Hills Place (2245 Virginia Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30305) on Sunday, December 7 at 2:00pm with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Christ Church of Atlanta Building Fund, P.O. Box 76320, Atlanta, GA 30359; or Life Member Club Telecom Pioneers, c/o Eddie Hindman, 27 Village Glen, Dallas, GA 30157.