Martha Cooke

Born in Nashville, Tennessee on April 21, 1935

Departed on August 22, 2020 and resided in Brentwood, Tennessee

Our 74-year odyssey through this life has ended because my sweetheart, the love of my life and my mainstay left us 22 August 2020.
We began our journey together in the sixth grade at Dan Mills Elementary school, when I saw the most beautiful red-haired girl and decided that one day, she would be my wife.
From that beginning, we finished grade school TOGETHER, then graduated Isaac Litton High School TOGETHER and then graduated David Lipscomb College TOGETHER and shortly thereafter we were married by Dr. Joe Sanders 17 June 1957 and thus began our 63 years of marriage TOGETHER. Martha taught third grade at her Alma Mater for five and a half years and then we began to start our family.
Martha is survived by her loving husband of 63 years Joe Cooke; two children Karen Elizabeth Cox (Charles Marlin), Bellevue and Stephen Clark Cooke (Stephanie Ann England), Oak Ridge. She is also survived by the light of her life and grandson Samuel England Cooke, Oak Ridge. In addition, she is survived by two nephews, David Deckard (Brenda) of Tucson, AZ and Thomas P. Hatfield (Nancy), Nashville.
There were three important things in her life; her church work, her family and genealogy. During her adult life she was a member of two churches of Christ; Jackson Park 23 years and Harpeth Hills fifty plus years. As a member of both congregations she was active in several ministries; Education, Benevolence and Missions.
Martha was born 21 April 1935 to Walter Bell Clark and Mabel Frances Hall, both of whom predecease her. She is also predeceased by her three siblings; Ruth Elizabeth Hatfield (Thomas P. Sr.), Mary Frances Deckard (John William), and Harry Douglas Clark (Willowdean Jackson).
Martha was an accomplished genealogist. She was a fifty-year member of Travellers Rest Chapter DAR, serving in several roles including Chapter Regent. She also was the Organizing Regent of the Prudence Hall Chapter DAC, named for her fifth great grandmother. In addition to her membership in these patriotic organizations, she helped countless individuals researching their ‘roots' providing proof of eligibility for membership in these organizations and, not only those seeking membership in the DAR or DAC, those who simply wanted to know about their family, including one young man in a California State Prison.
Martha was the rudder in our family ship, possessing the uncanny ability to always be right. Perhaps the summation of her life work is expressed in one of the many get well cards from her friends; "you have given so much for so long for so many". Martha's favorite hymn was ‘Victory in Jesus', and I'm sure she is claiming that victory today.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Fund at 410 Allied Dr, Nashville, TN, 37211 or https://www.disasterreliefeffort.org/donate
Visitation for will be 4:00pm-8:00pm, Monday and 10:00am-11:00am, Tuesday followed by a Private Entombment at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy 100, Nashville, TN, 37221, 615-646-9292, harpethhills.com