Willie Mae Cook

Willie Mae (Brooks) Cook, age 82, of Clarksville, Tennessee was born January 23, 1943, in Memphis, Tennessee. After enduring medical complications, Willie Mae passed peacefully at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee on October 8, 2025.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at her family church, Little John Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Following her marriage to Buford, Willie Mae maintained a faithful and supportive membership with Stony Point Missionary Baptist Church in Smith’s Grove, Kentucky. Locally, Willie Mae was an honorary member and served on the mother’s board at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Oak Grove, Kentucky.

Willie Mae received her undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee and earned her graduate degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Willie Mae was a devoted educator and had the distinction of being the first African American teacher at Georgian Hills Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee. After teaching for 35 years with the Department of Defense Education Activity at Lincoln Elementary, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Willie Mae retired in 2005.

Those who knew Willie Mae, admired her for being committed to Christ, warm-hearted, loyal, and giving. In her final days, Willie Mae maintained her spiritual devotion to God through prayer and was blessed to be surrounded by church members, colleagues, family, and friends in addition to dedicated care givers and medical professionals.

Willie Mae was preceded in death by her parents, Ofair and Leora Brooks; her lifelong partner of 53 years, Buford Cook Jr.; and siblings, Sylvester Brooks, Olevia Brooks, Juanita Perry, and Georgia Francis. She is survived by her devoted children, Buford Cook III (Melissa) of Henderson, Nevada and Christie Cook Keen (Steven) of Greensboro, North Carolina; two grandchildren, Shelbie and Andrew of Kansas City, Missouri; sisters, Rosie Hardiman of Kansas City, Missouri and Barbara Nathaniel of Memphis, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Nellie Shobe (Tommy) of Oakland, Kentucky, Rosetta Johnson of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Dollie Brents of Clarksville, Tennessee, Laura Cooke of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Carolyn Cooke of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Deborah Cooke of Nicholsville, Kentucky; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

*The family is asking that everyone who attends Willie Mae's Celebration wear her favorite color Red*