Opal Cook

Opal Cook was born on September 7,1946 in a small rural community of Lisbon, Arkansas, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie and Annie Ramey. She departed this earthly home and entered her Heavenly home on February 28, 2026 at the South Arkansas Regional Hospital in El Dorado, Arkansas.

As her favorite passage of scripture, Psalm 23, ends – "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Mrs. Cook's mustard seed faith and unwavering devotion in her walk with the Lord began at a young age when she accepted Christ into her heart at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Lisbon, Arkansas. She took on several roles at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, some of which include church clerk, head of the kitchen committee, announcement lady and faithful choir member. She received an education from Smackover Training School.

On October 16,1972, the then Opal Ramey was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Sammie Dean Cook in Smackover, Arkansas.

She worked as a cook for over 20 years at the Smackover Senior Center and Champagnolle Landing. After medical conditions caused her to stop working, Mrs. Cook spent her time watching game shows, specifically Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud, chauffeuring her grandchildren around to their sporting and school events, sitting on the porch and talking on the phone with her siblings, and people-watching at Walmart.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; six brothers (Lonnie Ramey Jr., Curtis Ramey, Huey P. Ramey, Jimmie Ramey, Billy Ray Ramey, and Glynn Ramey); and two sisters (Mary Neil Holmes and Betty Grant).

She leaves to cherish in memory two daughters, Regina (Julius) Burton of Smackover, Arkansas, and Keisha (Gerard) Cook-Buckner of Chesapeake, Virginia; one son, Samuel Cook of Smackover, Arkansas; two sisters, Dorothy White of El Dorado, Arkansas, and Marcella Phillips of Mt. Holly, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Antonio (Adriane) Davis; Kelce Davis; Joseph Clark; Dennis Caldwell; Taylor Green; Jul'vonta Anderson; Jul'wanna Anderson; and Marion Kelley; one great-grandson, Dax Dean Davis; two great-granddaughters, Irianna Kelley and Journei Anderson; one God-son, Cordero Richardson; one special niece, Adrianna Phillips; four step-daughters, Bea Williams, Michelle Cook, Carol Cook, and Shirl Gibson; along with a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and many friends who loved her dearly, just as family.