Mildred Elizabeth Cole

Mildred E. Cook “Cookie” Cole died on July 31, 2013 at Regency Pointe in Rainbow City, Alabama. She was 96. From the time she was voted “wittiest” all three years of high school until the she was over 96, Cookie was known for her sense of humor and wit, always having something funny to say even when she was being treated for her terminal illness.

Born in Anniston, Alabama, she married Bob Cole from Gadsden in 1940 and lived in Gadsden for nearly 40 years. She returned to Anniston after Bob’s death and lived there for over 30 years. After Bob’s death she married Dr. A. J. Beard of Anniston. In 2010 she moved into Regency Pointe, a retirement community in Rainbow City. She was a graduate of Anniston High School and the Business College in Anniston.

Cookie and Bob were active in the First United Methodist Church in Gadsden, teaching the Methodist Youth Fellowship for many years and led a Girl Scout Troup. Living by the ninth hole of a golf course, their home was always open to youth playing golf, and many of her former “boys” have kept up with her their entire adult lives. In Anniston she was very active in the Carré Sunday School class at the First United Methodist Church. An award winning artist, many of her paintings grace the homes of friends around Anniston and Gadsden.

Cookie is survived by her nephew, Ken Shull and his wife Carolyn of Boone, NC, her three nieces, Ann Cummans and husband Dave of Gadsden, Cathye Leshay and husband David of The Villiages, Fla. and Judy Spivey and husband Allen of Selma, AL, several great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her godson, Frank Brown of Gadsden. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Jo Cook, her sister, Ruth Shull, and her husbands, Robert C. Cole and Dr. A. J. Beard.

Cookie will be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Anniston in a private funeral on August 1, 2013. A public memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Anniston on August 12th at 11:00 A.M..