CORDELE – George E. Cook, 79, died Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, July 26, 2018, in the chapel of Hughes & Wright Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m. The burial will be private.

Mr. Cook was born on September 12, 1938 in Grady County, Ga. to the late Cecil Franklin Cook and the late Ollie Mae Gainous Cook. He is also preceded in death by four siblings: Helen Poole, Royal Cook, Charles Cook, and Betty Pyrz.

Mr. Cook served his country in the United States Navy from 1957-1961 on the aircraft carrier, the Ticonderoga. He was a retired administrative assistant for the Georgia Department of Corrections. Mr. Cook had a heart for service and gave to the community in many ways. He was a member of Morningside Baptist Church for more than 40 years and was a member of the choir and a Deacon. He joined the Cordele Lions Club in 1965, and for over 50 years he gave many hours of his time in service projects with both the Lions Club and the Lioness Club.  He donated blood for many years and for as long as his health allowed. He grew up on a nursery and loved working outside in his garden and the yard. He also enjoyed watching baseball and football; he especially loved watching the Atlanta Braves and his Georgia Southern Eagles. More than anything though, Mr. Cook loved his family. He was a devoted husband and father, and thought his grandchildren were the best gift he had ever received.

Mr. Cook is survived by his wife of 52 years: Joelyn Stripling Cook of Cordele; his daughters and their spouses: Joy (Phil) Echols and Pamelia “Pam” (Theodore “Ted”) Parker all of Buford, Ga.; his siblings: Jimmy (Judy) Cook of Bainbridge, Ga., Larry (Katherine) Cook of Cairo, Ga., and Becky Cook Kelley of Las Vegas, Nev.; his grandchildren: Thomas George Parker, Sarah Paige Parker, Caroline Maggie Echols, and Rachel Elisabeth Echols; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Morningside Baptist Church, Cordele GA or your favorite charity.

Online condolences may be left at www.hughesandwright.com. Hughes & Wright Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with these arrangements.