Hugh Edwin Cooke

Hugh Edwin Cooke, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Hugh was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on April 16, 1937, the son of Bertie Jay (B.J.) Cook and Laura Mae Shortt Cook. He grew up in Richlands, Virginia and was a 1955 graduate of Richlands High School. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, after his honorable discharge he attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur, Georgia. He worked as a supervisor of public benefits for three counties in Florida and later as a funeral director for many years in and around the Richlands area. He was a long-time member of the Casey-Short Post #9640 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps League #058 Vero Beach, Florida, Military Order of the Devil Dogs, a past president of the Richlands Lions Club and former chairman of the board of the Tazewell County Department of Social Services. Hugh was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the Virginia Funeral Directors Association (VFDA), and a past president of the Southwest Virginia Funeral Directors Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents and also his sisters, Blanche Wanda Taylor and Alma Paulette Smith. Hugh was a loving husband to his wife of 60 years, Carole Buskell Cooke of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, who survives him. He was a wonderful father to his sons who survive him, H. Shannon Cooke and his wife Carlene of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, and Jason-Paul Trevor Cooke and his wife Heather of Culebra, Puerto Rico. He also leaves behind his sister Jaydean Farris of Barefoot Bay, Florida; her children Elaine Farris of Barefoot Bay, Florida, Laura Farris of Doran, Virginia, and David Farris of Lexington, North Carolina; Elaine's daughter Neyia Beavers, her husband Shawn and their two children all of Cedar Buff, Virginia; Laura's children Emily Lester and her husband Bradley of Doran, Virginia, and John Stevenson, his wife Brittany, and their five children all of Pennsylvania; David's son Jayden Farris of Lexington, North Carolina; nephew Eric Smith and his wife Diane and their son of Bristol, Tennessee; niece Teri Fallon and her husband Pat of South Dakota; nephew Rodney Taylor and his two children of Warrenton, Virginia; his sister-in-law Paula Bandy of Cedar Bluff, Virginia; Paula's daughter Barri Gregory and her husband Trenton of Abingdon, Virginia; and many countless friends he had made from a long life.

Hugh dedicated his life to helping others through very difficult times and deeply touched the lives of many. He always had a pleasant word and a smile to whomever he met and brought joy with him wherever he went. He meant so much to so many. He will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, October 25, 2024 at Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, VA where funeral services will be held at 7:00 PM with the Reverend Dr. Thomas Keats McKnight officiating. Burial at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Cedar Bluff, VA will be private. H. Shannon Cooke, Jason-Paul Trevor Cooke, Jamie Webb, Jody G. Harris, Darrell Addison, James R. Gross, Mike Newberry and Lonzo Blankenship will serve as pallbearers with members of Casey-Short VFW Post #9640, members of the Marine Corps League, Bo Adair, Rannie Blackburn, Jim Boyd, Paul “Slick” Cook, Rick Haisley, Danny Lowe, Bob McLovich, John Shreves, Pete Vance and John Vencill as honorary bearers.

Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, VA is honored to serve the family. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.perrystclairfuneralhome.com.