Jean Tandy Cook

Jean Cook, beloved friend, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 4, 2017, with family by her side.

Born in Buncombe County, North Carolina on May 19, 1931, Jean was the daughter of the late Ruth Reynolds and Oscar Garrott Tandy. She graduated from Lee Edwards High School in Asheville, N.C., and she attended Woman’s College at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953 and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa.

Following graduation from college, Jean received a Carnegie fellowship to study English at Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a master’s degree in 1954. It was there that she won the heart of William “Bill” Agee Cook, Jr., whom she met while he was serving a medical residency at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Jean taught high school English in Kingsport, Tennessee for one year following graduate school. She and Bill were married on June 18, 1955.

Jean’s love of literature lasted throughout her life. She kept a well-stocked library in the family home, and she belonged to several book clubs. She also enjoyed bridge club and her many close friendships in both. She was a marvelous cook and was the quintessential gracious hostess. Her husband often boasted of her proudly that their own home address was “the best restaurant in town”.

Jean was devoted to her family, her greatest joy. Her five children were fortunate to be raised by their English teacher mother, and their education was a top priority. She enjoyed her daily walk and spending time at Smith Mountain Lake. She was a member of Peakland Baptist Church for 60 years.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years; She is also survived by five children; a daughter, Ruth Cook Rowe, of Wynnewood, Pa.; and four sons and daughters-in-law; Bill and Rondys Trent Cook, John and Elizabeth Wills Cook, Robert and Lucy Shields Cook, and George and Kristen Bierman Cook, all of Lynchburg, Va. She was blessed with fifteen grandchildren, who also survive: Ashley Cook Feuerstein (Rob), William Allen Cook (Nancy Potekhen), Sarah Cook Cummings (Jonathan), James Andrew Cook, Marcella Elizabeth Cook, Jean Reynolds Cook, Mary Wills Cook, Christopher Wallace Rowe, Molly Dawson Rowe, Charles William Rowe, John Shields Cook, Thomas McGee Cook, George Woods Cook Jr., James Wilson Cook, and Harrison Agee Cook; and four great grandchildren: Emma Jean Feuerstein, William Agee Cook IV, Oliver Emerson Cummings, and Lydia Evelyn Cummings. She is also predeceased by her sister, Libby Tandy Gropp, of Bronx, New York. She is survived by two other sisters: Margaret Tandy Gatling, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Sally Anna Tandy, of Arden, North Carolina.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the dedicated staff at Westminster Canterbury, for their wonderful care.

There will be a memorial service this Sunday, January 8, at 2:00 p.m., at Peakland Baptist Church, with Reverends Jim Hunter and Nathan C. Brooks, III, officiating followed by a reception at the home of Robert and Lucy Cook, from 4 to 6 p.m., 1304 Langhorne Road.

For memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests Peakland Baptist Church, 4018 Peakland Place, Lynchburg, VA 24503; or the Jean and Bill Cook Fund of the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, 101 Paulette Circle, Suite B, Lynchburg, VA 24502.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.