Mitzi Christine Cook

Mitzi Christine Cook, 62, died peacefully in Winston-Salem on Friday, May 12, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. A native of New Bern and true renaissance woman, she could sing, dance, play piano and handbells, draw, take photographs and transform fabric and thread into magical creations. She also learned to raise cattle through 4-H, rode horses, harvested corn and soybeans, repaired small engines and appliances, and could prepare a three-course meal in a dorm room with two hot plates, a toaster oven, and a Fry Baby. This was before she even began her “real” careers. Mitzi also enjoyed painting, sculpture, crochet, knitting, hairpin lace, and many other crafts.

Like her late father, Elbert Cook, Mitzi excelled in school. And like her mother, Belle McLawhorn Cook, and late grandmother, Gertrude McLawhorn, Mitzi learned to transform the simplest of ingredients into fabulous deliciousness. In addition to her mother, Mitzi is survived by her brothers, Bill (Andra) Cook and Jerry (Amy) Cook, and her sister, Deb Tayloe; her nephews, Derek Cook, Hunter (Jann) Tayloe, Josh (Caroline) Tayloe, and Daniel (Erica) Cook; her nieces, Cyndy (Paul) Otto, Karen Tayloe, and Molly (Stephen) O’Neal; and nine grand-nieces and -nephews. She leaves behind numerous cousins, including Ron (Karla) McLawhon of Chicago, with whom she enjoyed many banjo performances and other great times. She is also survived by her poodles, Nina and Millie.

Mitzi’s visual artistic gifts were first nurtured in Ed Campbell’s Graphics Art classes at New Bern High School, where she also was a member of the Drill Team, the Tennis Team and an accompanist for the Girls’ Glee Club. While attending UNC-Chapel Hill, she discovered theater in one of her final undergraduate classes and returned to complete a master’s in fine arts in costume design. Mitzi’s friends and family were fortunate to wear her creations, and she designed the UNC Tar Heels’ first Rameses mascot. She briefly owned and operated a fabric and notions store. Mitzi finished a second master’s in textile merchandising at NC State University, and she soon began a teaching career that would take her to Europe, Asia, and across North America.

After teaching fashion design at Meredith College and participating as a faculty member in Meredith’s summer study abroad at Paris American Academy, Mitzi moved to Mt. Pleasant, MI, where she branched into teaching Computer Aided Design and other cutting-edge techniques at Central Michigan University. Mitzi traveled to Korea as an observer and taught in Mexico as part of her faculty duties. She then returned to North Carolina, where she taught numerous fashion and other design courses, led the study abroad program in fashion design for Appalachian State University, organized the annual student exhibition, and worked to learn more of the High Country arts.

Mitzi taught, learned about, (and, let’s be honest, purchased) clothing in Paris and New York whenever the opportunity arose. She even worked as an intern on Broadway for the “Patsy Cline Story,” where she was nearly clotheslined by a costume rack. She adored Paris and enjoyed working with students there. As Paris American Academy’s President Peter Carman remembers, “We were all blessed by having known Mitzi. She was always focused and aware of students and understood their shortcomings, but she coaxed the best out of many of them. We will miss her gentility, her clear mind, and her ability to capture a situation.”

Friends Ruth Hunt, Alisa Chilton and Diane Tyndall will remember her as a mesmerizing storyteller, a consummate tour guide, and the best friend anyone could wish for. Her sense of humor was quick and on point. She was always up for adventure, whether camping in the NC Mountains, seeing Elton John in Las Vegas, shopping in Charleston, or traveling through Napa en route to a northern California wedding.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be directed to the Carolina Poodle Rescue, PO Box 1325, Pacolet, SC 29372 or a charity of your choice.

You may address condolences to the family by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com.

Memorial services will be 2:00 pm Saturday, June 3, at Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory of New Bern.

Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory of New Bern along with Salem Funerals & Cremations of Winston Salem are honored to serve the Cook family.