Bobbitt's Fotothing

The Reverend Richard F. Cook, 85, of Hogansville, died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Hospice LaGrange. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Milledgeville with Rev. Jerry Bradley officiating. Burial will follow at Baldwin Memorial Gardens. The Reverend Cook, a native of Boston, Mass., was one of five sons born to the late Frank E. and Florence Markham Cook. He was a WWII veteran, serving his country in the Army as a cook and chaplain's assistant. Following the war he met and married the late Helen Cromwell Cook, his wife of 40 years, with whom he had four children. He was educated at Westminster Choir College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music, and at New York University where he earned the Master of Arts degree in Religious Education. His career of service to God through the music ministry began in 1941 and spanned some 50 years and four states. He was ordained to the ministry on April 30, 1967. He served eleven churches, including First Baptist Church of Milledgeville from 1972 until his retirement in 1986, in such capacities as minister of music, minister of education, minister of youth, business administrator, organist, and minister to senior adults, often in several areas of responsibility at the same time. He served 5 months in Liberia, Africa, on the foreign missions field. The Richard F. Cook Chair of Music, a scholarship endowment fund to prepare musicians for the Christian music ministry, was established in his honor. He also served for 30 years as organist and pianist for the renowned Sons of Jubal, a missions oriented choral group of Georgia Baptist ministers of music. Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Wynette Phillips Cook of Hogansville; three daughters, Sherin Hinnant of Warner Robins, Pam Finley of Milledgeville, Linda Mills of Hilliard, Oh.; one son, Rick Cook of Sparta, N.J.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, the Reverend Charles E. Cook of Denver, Colo., and Paul F. Cook of Boston, Mass.; three step-daughters, Gail Sasser of Atlanta, Marla McDonald of Vidalia, Vicky Arnold of North Richmond Hill, Tex.; two step-sons, Phillip Bobbitt of Atlanta, Calvin Bobbitt of Vidalia; eight step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandson. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Moore's Funeral Home in Milledgeville. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice LaGrange or the Moeller Organ Fund at First Baptist in Milledgeville would be appreciated. Moores Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Burial: Baldwin Memorial Gardens, Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, USA