Lena B. Cook

Lena Mahulda Bright Cook, 93, left her earthly home on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, to be reunited with her beloved husband, Charlie, in their heavenly home where they will walk hand in hand through eternity. She was surrounded by family at her daughter’s home in Stuarts Draft. 

Lena was born March 28, 1930, at the homeplace of her parents, the late Sherman Lee Bright and Sarah Lena Brown Bright in Back Draft, Bath County.  

She graduated from Millboro High School and then worked for the C&P Telephone Company for 5 years.  She married the late Charles Lewis Cook, Jr. on December 8th, 1949 and embarked on her new life as a military wife for her husband’s 20 years of service and dedicated mother to their five children.  They were happily married for over 67 years.  She was a member of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church for over 60 years.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Sam Cook of Stuarts Draft, as well as her 14 brothers and sisters: Goldie, Hester, Joanna, Virginia, Homer, Arthur, Stanley, Richard, Annie, Pauline, Paul, Lester, Ethel and Mary. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Lola Bright of New York; her brother-in-law, Fred Cook of Churchville; and many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lena lives on in her children: her daughter-in-law, Julie Cook of Stuarts Draft, Charles Lewis Cook III (Chip) of Verona, Scott and Helen Cook of Port Republic, David and Janet Cook of Stuarts Draft, and a daughter, Robin Painter of Stuarts Draft; her four grandchildren, Sam Cook (Keri) of Stuarts Draft, Jessica Baker of Evans, Colorado, Shaun Baker (Alexis) of Summerville, South Carolina and Hope Cook of McLean; her three great grandchildren, Dylan and Devin Baker of Evans, Colorado, and Hailey Cook of Stuarts Draft, and her beloved family friend, Steve Lawhorne, who will all cherish loving memories of their mother and grandmother and the blessings she added to each of their lives.                 

A memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 5, 2024, at Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church in Fishersville.  Burial will follow in the Church cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Henry Funeral Home in Staunton.                 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church Food Pantry (30 Tinkling Spring Drive, Fishersville, VA 22939).