RALEIGH – Mary Cooke “T. Cooke” Williford died on Friday, January 20, 2012 at Elmcroft of Northridge in Raleigh, North Carolina.

T. Cooke was born July 31, 1921 in Bertie County, North Carolina, to the late Thurman Cherry and Mary Cooke Williford. She attended Peace College, and graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh. After graduation she followed in her mother’s footsteps and became an educator, teaching primary school in Windsor, Aulander, and Ahoskie, North Carolina.

After retirement, T. Cooke, joined by family and friends, enjoyed traveling to many places, including Canada, South America, and several trips to Europe. She was involved in the Aulander Civic League and a member of Aulander Baptist Church. T. enjoyed playing bridge, was well-accomplish at needlepoint, a superb cook, enjoyed fishing, and social outings.

T. Cooke was predeceased by her cousins, Pauline S. Tayloe, Dr. Jacob Ernest Cooke, and Margaret Cooke Miller; and husband, Dr. I. B. Miller, and Ira Ben Miller Jr.

She is survived by her cousins, Florence Cooke Eddy and her husband, Elmer, of Trenton, NC, Ruth M. Cooke of Louisburg, NC, Jean Gordon Cooke, wife of the late Dr. J. E Cooke of Lyme, New Hampshire, Sarah Foster of Louisburg, NC, Peggy Miller Holbrook and family of High Point, NC and Seattle, Washington, Pat Miller Howell and her husband, Larry, and family of Durham, NC, John Eddy and his wife, Susan, and family of Trenton, NC, Jake Cooke and his wife, Liz, and family of Lyme, New Hampshire, Lauren L. Miller and Jacqui H. Miller, wife of the late I. B. Miller Jr. of High Point, NC. She is also survived by her miniature poodle, Beau, now living with Pat Miller Howell and family.

Graveside memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the Aulander Cemetery in Aulander, NC.

Memorial contributions in remembrance of T. Cooke can be made to Hospice,  521 Myers Street West, Ahoskie, NC 27910, the Sallie Harrell Jenkins Memorial Library, PO Box 189 – 302 Broad Street Aulander, NC 27805 or to PAWS of Hertford County, Inc., 231 Mount Moriah Road Winton, NC 27986.

Sykes Funeral Service of Rich Square is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be directed to the family at www.sykesfuneralservice.com.