Connie Cooke Wood

Connie C. Wood, age 77, of Raleigh, NC, passed away on August 11, 2022, after a brief illness. She was born September 7, 1944, the daughter of the late Lovie Virginia Liles Cooke and Douglas Bryant Cooke of Zebulon, NC. Connie is predeceased by Thomas E. "Tommy" Wood, her high school sweetheart and beloved husband of 49 years as well as her brother Douglas Barbee Cooke.

Connie is survived by their only child Jessica Wood (Alisha Woodroof) and sister Sheila Cooke Stancil (Timothy Mahoney).

She graduated from Wakelon High School in 1962 where she distinguished herself as an excellent student, cheerleader, and Homecoming Queen, escorted by her future husband and captain of the football team, Tommy. Connie earned her Bachelor's Degree from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC in 1965 and her Master's of Education from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1970. She and Tommy were married in 1966 soon after he returned from Vietnam. Connie taught in Wake and Harnett County School systems before becoming an administrator for Harnett County Schools. Connie served as Director of Exceptional Children’s Programs. It was under her leadership that programs, as we know them today for exceptional children, were established in Harnett County Schools. She dedicated her professional life to furthering public education for NC students. She retired as a consultant with the NC Department of Public Instruction. She traveled the state working with exceptional children’s programs, administrators, and teachers.

In the 1980s, Connie and Tommy were top competitors in shag dance competitions in North and South Carolina. In 1985 they won first place in the Shag Preservation Association Points Championship. In 2012 she was inducted into the Beach Shaggers National Hall of Fame.

In retirement, Connie and Tommy split time between N Myrtle Beach, SC and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Connie was very involved in both communities through church doing a great deal of outreach. She especially enjoyed volunteering in San Miguel and helping to feed those less fortunate.

In 2014, Tommy and Connie began to spend more time in Raleigh to be close to family and friends where they became members of Capital Community Church. After Tommy’s death, Connie moved to back to Zebulon where she immersed herself in the companionship of family and friends. She was active at Zebulon Baptist Church. In 2022, she moved back to Raleigh to be closer to Jessica.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Capital Community Church located at 1417 Clifton Street in Raleigh. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

The family would like to thank the incredibly special people at Transitions LifeCare for the kindness, care, and compassion that Connie and Jessica received during this very difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Transitions LifeCare of Raleigh, Philanthropy Dept. 250 Hospice Circle,| Raleigh, NC 27607 transitionslifecare.org/donate or to the Junior Shag Association, Jr. Scholarship program juniorshaggers.com or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.