Carolyn Gruber Cooke

Mary Carolyn Gruber Cooke of Hoover, Alabama, passed away on March 16, 2025, at the age of 77. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Carolyn loved her family and friends and watching and cheering for the Auburn Tigers. She was known as “MC” by her childhood and college friends and was named Hillsboro High School Prom Queen. Carolyn attended Auburn University, where she proudly pledged Phi Mu and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Carolyn was a 40-year member of Riverchase United Methodist Church, where she was active in the Women’s Circle of Love. She was also involved in Civitan International, and she cherished the lifelong friends she made through this organization. Carolyn worked for BellSouth Telecommunications for many years before her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rheinhart and Sallie Welch Gruber. She is survived by her son Robert (Jamie) Cooke, daughter Janice Cooke and two grandchildren, Julia and Joel Cooke.

Carolyn valiantly battled a challenging health condition for more than 12 years, and the family would like to express its sincere appreciation to her caregivers for their compassion and support.

Visitation will be held at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL (475 Cahaba Valley Road) on Wednesday, March 19th at 4 p.m. A service will follow at 5 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Spring Hill Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Pike South, Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Spain Rehabilitation Center Patient Assistance Fund at UAB. Gifts can be mailed to UAB Gift Records, AB 1230, 1720 2nd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35294-0112 or made online at https://go.uab.edu/spainrehabfund