Virginia Cook

Virginia Evelyn Smith Cook (1917-2011)
Died at age 93 at her home in McRae, Arkansas surrounded by her family.
Virginia (Sugar Granny) was born on November 30, 1917 on Deer Creek near McEwen, Tennessee. She was one of eleven children born to Winfield Scott Smith and Fannie Bell Duggar Smith. By today's standards, life was very difficult with out electricity and running water. Her family was farmers growing wheat and tobacco as cash crops. Maude and Molly were the working Draft horses. The family grew their own vegetables and fruits and with the smokehouse allowed them to produce their meats for the winter. Water came from the spring out of the mountain.
She met her future husband, Joseph Edgar Cook, while working in Paris, Tennessee at Scotts Coal Delivery Store.
World War II separated them and she moved to Detroit, Michigan to work on a Ford assembly line that produced planes and amphibious ducks for the war effort.
He served in the Army Airforce in Port Moresby, New Guinea during WW II. He enlisted December 9, 1941 and discharged December 17, 1945 at Camp Chaffe, Arkansas
After the war in 1945, she moved to Arkansas to marry our father, Joseph Edgar Cook at the Court House in Searcy, Arkansas on December 21, 1945. They lived at McRae and farmed strawberries. Many fond memories were made while working with our Mother in the strawberry field. Eventually they took a railroad job with the Missouri Pacific Railroad, building bridges in the West.
Life on the road with three small children was difficult, Nora born 1946, Scott born 1948 and Jerry born 1953. They returned to McRae in 1958 to raise the children. Eventually, they became merchants of C&S Auto Parts.
Virginia loved flowers and gardening and worked at the B-Mart for many years and was loved by all her customers.
The family includes Nora Jo, a registered nurse, married Tom Black of Searcy, and a son Joey Black of Fayetteville. Lynn Scott, a cardiac and thoracic surgeon, married Jo Ella, of Sidney, Illinois, and they have four children and two grandchildren. Shane, his wife Amy and children Jackson (9) and Madelynn (5) of St Joseph, Illinois, Mary Rebecca "Becca" of Boise, Idaho, Julius of Sidney, Illinois and Daniel of Boise, Idaho. Jerry Cook, conductor of Union Pacific Railroad, in North Little Rock,of Jacksonville, Ar and children Carrie Hern, and her sons, Tyler, DJ, and Stephen of Beebe, Ar and Jeremy Cook of Waco, Texas.
Virginia loved her animals, Princess, her Arabian horse of 30 plus years, Nicki and Cricket her beloved dogs. Cricket was with her in bed till the end.
The McRae First Baptist Church was her passion. She joined in 1946 and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School over 60 years. Her involvement was extensive at the church.
The J.E. and Virginia Cook Fund at the church, was created to help the needy in the community. We would encourage donations to this fund at First Baptist Church, 701 E. Second St., McRae, AR 72102.
Efforts by Family and Hospice allowed Sugar Granny to remain at home until she passed to eternity on January 8, 2011.
Family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2011, at First Baptist Church, McRae, Arkansas, with burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens.