Rose Marie Cook

Rose Marie Green Cook was born on August 28, 1930, in Hannibal, Missouri to the late Arizola Robinson Miles and late Herbert Green. She accepted Christ at an early age and attended Second Christian Church in Hannibal.

Rose Marie graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 1948 from Douglass High School in Hannibal, Missouri. After graduation, she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and attended college.

On June 10, 1949, Rose Marie was united in holy matrimony to James Dee Cook Jr. They were married for 66 years until his death in 2016. Their union bore 3 children: Colburne, Richard, and Carolyn.

Rose Marie was a gifted soprano with a powerful voice who performed vocal solos as early as high school. After moving to St. Paul, she studied voice under the famed Mady Metzger-Zeigler, a former vocal coach for the cast of Porgy and Bess. She appeared with various vocal groups in Minnesota and recorded as a soloist with The Cantorians, a local singing group. She declined an offer to join the famed Karamu House in Cleveland, Ohio, opting instead to remain with her young family. Whilst raising her family, Rose Marie did not stop singing; she sang for weddings, funerals, and with a number of church choirs: Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul, St. Peters AME Church in Minneapolis and Hillcrest Church in Bloomington.

Rose Marie served as Director of Day Care for St. James AME Church in St. Paul and St. Peters AME Church in Minneapolis. Also, she operated her own home day care in St. Paul and Minneapolis while raising her own children. Once her children were grown, she went to work and became a furniture sales consultant for Wickes Furniture and later, Levitz Furniture. Rose Marie retired from Levitz in 1991.

Rose Marie missed being around and loved people, so, she became a concierge at Mystic Lake Casino. She loved working at Mystic Lake and continued to work there for several years. She, also, was a wedding planner and loved to travel and garden. She was a member of several social organizations in Minnesota such as: The Red Hats Society, The Credjafawn Club, Secret Pal Club, Book Club, and Senior Luncheon Group to name a few. In 2014, Rose Marie and her husband, James, moved to Stockbridge, Georgia to live with their daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, Harold Rose, to be near their Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. While in GA, Rose Marie joined the Red Hats Society and regularly visited the Hidden Valley Senior Center where she joined the choir and gained a wonderful group of friends.

Rose Marie departed this earthly life on February 13, 2024. She was preceded in death by mother, Arizola, father, Herbert, brothers: Robert Robinson, Richard Green and Sherman Green; Sister, Barbara Green and son-in-law Stephen Rogers. She leaves to cherish her memory, son, Richard Cook, daughters: Colburne Rogers and Carolyn Rose (Harold), Grandchildren: Dr. Lisa Archer (John King), Earin Rose (KeAnna), Desiderata Rogers, Harold Rose Jr (Crystal), Derek Rose (Fatimah), and Gabriella Rogers, Great Grandchildren: Alyssa, Katessa, Tru, Eli, Emily, Jake, Keyon, Carter, Keela, Yasir, Zahra, River, Kai, and Royalti, and Great-Great Grandchildren: Amayah, Grace, Will and John as well as a host of loving family and dear friends.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Sunset Funeral Home, Minneapolis with visitation beginning at 12:00 PM. Interment will be at Sunset Cemetery.