Deacon Billy Cook

Fall was the season when Chester Cook and Beulah Mae Stewart Cook welcome their first baby boy home on October 26, 1937 in Union County, Arkansas. Billy attended school and graduated from New Hope High School in 1957.  While enrolled in school he was known for being an exceptional student and baseball player, affectionally known as “Lefty.”  Later in life he would become the president of his alma mater alumni association. 

Billy confessed his faith and accepted Christ at an early age and united with Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Lisbon, Arkansas.  During his tenure at Mt. Zion he organized their first choir and served as Choir President for over thirty years, he also served as church treasurer and on January 2, 1972 he was chosen “of good report, full of the Spirit and of Wisdom” and ordained as a deacon where he served faithfully until his health declined. 

Billy was employed for 19 years with Dr. Cary Clark at Clark Animal Hospital.  He later began working for Columbia Chemical where he retired after 20 years of service.  After a brief retirement, Billy returned to work with his longtime friend Jim Ralston at Ralston Animal Hospital and later with Dr. Casey Mitchell at El Dorado Animal Hospital where he worked until 2016 when his health began to fail.

On December 8, 1957 Billy united in Holy Matrimony to Rosetta Robinson and to this union six children were reared and raised. 

Deacon Cook passed away peacefully in the company of his family on the 21st day of August 2018 at Life Touch Hospice. He has taken his rest and will join his love ones gone on before him:  his parents, his daughter, Vickie Lynn Cook, his brother, Sammie Dean Cook; his mother and father-in-law, Tom and Mary Alice (Essie) Robinson.

He leaves his cherished memories to his wife of 60 years, Rosetta Robinson Cook of El Dorado, Arkansas.  Two sons:  Billy W. Cook of El Dorado, Arkansas and Michael A. Cook of Jacksonville, Arkansas.  Three daughters:  Suzette Coleman, Paula J. Aaron and her husband Gary all El Dorado, Arkansas and Lisa Black and her husband Booker of Houston, Texas.  He also leaves a brother Otis Sherman and his wife Mae of El Dorado, Arkansas and his sister-in-law, Opral Cook of Smackover, Arkansas.  He was affectionally known as “PawPaw” and leaves wonderful, memories and words of wisdom to his beloved grandchildren:  Ginetta, Jonathan, Candice, Raven, Justin, Chesnee, Gary, Jr., Justin, Alexis, Stephen and Alex. His great-grandchildren:  Raelyn, Haley, Kaleb, Rose, Ja’liah and the newest baby girl expected to arrive in November.  He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins extended family and friends. 

Public visitation will be from 11:00 am until 5:00 p.m. at Sims Mortuary on Friday, August 31, 2018. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at First St. James Baptist Church with Rev. Rev. Dwayne Thompson, officiating and Rev. Felton Burgie, eulogist. Interment will be at Rest Haven Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary. Sign the guestbook online at www.simsmortuary.com

Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Charles Davis, Randy Holmes and Jim Ralston. Active pallbearers will be Greg Dismuke, Jason Profit, Dennis Sanders, Michael Aaron, Gereron Sherman and Darrell Sherman.