Bro. Talmage Claxton Cook, 87, passed from this life to his heavenly home on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 while at Sanctuary Hospice House. He was born September 1, 1929 in Delta City, MS to Floye Westbrook and George T. Cook, Jr. After the flooding of the Mississippi Delta in the 1930’s, the Cooks moved to higher ground in Hatley, MS.
Claxton graduated from Hatley High School; attended Draughon’s Business College, Jackson, MS to become a CPA. However, the Lord had different plans for his life. He served in the US Navy Reserve 1951-1955 traveling to the Panama Canal. Hobbies included driving a diesel truck, buying and selling used cars, raising a garden, and sometimes you’d just find him with a fishing pole.
Claxton answered the call to the ministry in 1955, serving 40 years as pastor with The Church of God of Prophecy. He attended Bible Training Institute in Cleveland, TN to further his education for the ministry. He worked alongside other ministers and friends helping build KAMP KUMBAYA, a summer youth camp in Eupora, MS. He was honored and ordained as Bishop during his pastorate at Union Grove, Church of God of Prophecy. His pastorates included Cary/Rolling Fork, Tallulah, Belmont, Mooreville, Jackson, Pearl, Vicksburg, Liberty, and Amory, Mississippi. He retired in 1993, but quickly realized he could not be still, so he reentered pastoral work serving as pastor for Zion Assembly Church of God, Okolona, MS. He loved his congregations and all seemed to love him. He also loved mission work and traveled with Bishop Buford Johnson to Venezuela reaching out to those in need; he traveled to Guatemala delivering bicycles, clothing and other needed items to this mission field with Bishop Manual Hernandez.
He was a family man who worked hard all his life to provide for his wife, Doris, and two daughters, Kathy and Linda. He worked many jobs just so Doris could be a stay at home Mom with their daughters.
He is preceded in death by his father, G.T. Cook, Jr., mother, Floye Westbrook Cook, and brother Trenton Cook. He is survived by Doris, his wife of 68 years, daughter, Kathy Cook Burchfield (Charlie) Mt. Ida, AR, Linda Cook Simmons, Tupelo, MS, grandson, Anthony Karl Cook Simmons “Tony” (Audrey) Wichita Falls, TX, great grandson, Ashton and step great grandson, Andrew, Wichita Falls, TX, sisters Remona Cole (Wilbur), Rebecca Kelton (Cliff) of Amory, MS, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins plus a host of friends.
To quote a friend “Claxton Cook is in a class of his own”. He loved people, he never met a stranger, he wanted to help anyone anyway anytime he could. Because of his mentoring, many young men and women from his congregations have gone forth into the ministry. He leaves a strong legacy.
A service celebrating his life and home going will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 26, 2017 at Union Gove Church of God of Prophecy, 468 CR 1650, Mooreville, MS 38857. Bro. Ryan Napalo, Bro. Willard Cook and Bro. Ricky Cook will officiate. A graveside service with military honors will follow in Union Grove
church cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 1:00 p.m. to service time, all at the church. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Tim Kelton, Corey Kelton, Casey Kelton, Jeffrey Williams, Barton Williams, Ethan Murphree, and Don Henager.
Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803 or The Alzheimer’s Association of Mississippi, 855 S. Pear Orchard Road, Suite 501, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
