Van Blackie Cooke

After graduating from high school in Nashville, she attended and graduated from Pine Manor in Boston. As a young woman she set a goal of driving through all 48 states, completing this in October, 1995.

She married Henry Mayberry Bailey, Jr in 1947. They had a daughter, Van Meter, and a son, Henry III. In 1980, she married James Cooke.

Van worked in administration at the University of California hospitals.

She loved to travel by automobile, by herself, with her children, and with her husband James. She was a CBer. She never lost her soft Southern accent, even after 71 years in San Diego. She enjoyed giving parties at her home. Anyone who visited knew she loved elephants. The Braille Institute in Los Angeles provided her with audio tapes of her favorite character, Perry Mason. She also loved the music of Hank Williams.

Van passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025, with her loved ones by her side. She is survived by her daughter Van Meter Hord and husband Charlie; daughter-in-law the Rev. Anne Cox Bailey; granddaughter Emily Bailey Lawrence and her husband James, and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband James, brother William Blackie, Jr. and his wife Linda, and most recently by her beloved son, Henry.

Very special thanks to her primary caregivers Olivia, Valerie, and Myrasol.

Donations in Van’s memory may be made to Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church, or a charity of choice.