NASHVILLE – Thelma Boone Cooke, 87, died peacefully Friday, April 15, 2011 at Hospice of Wake County in Raleigh.  Born in Nash County on September 2, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Gilbert W. Boone and Bettie W. Boone of Nash County.  She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, W. C. Cooke, Jr.

Thelma retired from Farmers Home Administration with over 30 years of service.  She was always active in her community and church, serving as Sunday School teacher for young children for over 50 years, serving in various administrative positions as committee chair, and was named Rocky Mount District Lay Person of the Year in 1987.  She was also very active in community fund raising for various charities.  She and her husband, W.C., received Nashville’s Distinguished Citizens Award in 2001 for their leadership and service to Nashville’s citizens.  Thelma also received the Governor’s Volunteer Award and the Nash County Volunteer Service Award, volunteering at Nash Correctional Center for 15 years and serving on the Board of Directors for Faith Christian Ministries.  

A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Thelma is survived by her son, Robert (Brenda) Cooke of Raleigh, her daughter Elizabeth Seagle of Lansing, NC, granddaughter Lindsay (Derek) Osterhoudt of Raleigh, granddaughter Erin (Joel) Thompson of West Jefferson, NC,  and three great- grandsons, Chandler, Brighton, and Maverick Osterhoudt of Raleigh.  In addition, she is survived by two sisters and a brother, Edith Toussaint of Raleigh, Joyce Ammons of Fayetteville, and Warren (Lois) Boone of Spring Hope.  She was predeceased by a sister, Edna James of Nashville and a son-in-law, Dennis Seagle of Lansing, NC.

A service to celebrate her life was held Monday, April 18th, at 11 am, at the Nashville United Methodist Church, with family visitation held from 3 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, April 17th at Cornerstone Funeral Home & Cremations, 1052 South First Street in Nashville.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nashville United Methodist Church, 209 E. Washington Street, Nashville, NC 27856, Hospice of Ashe County, 392 NC Highway 88 E, Jefferson, NC 28640, or to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

The family wishes to thank her caregivers in Nashville over several years for their loving and devoted service: Linda Deale, Judy Rowland, Patricia Newsome, Marie Tabron, and Janet Sasser.   The loving care of many devoted Hospice workers and caregivers in Ashe and Wake County is also deeply appreciated by the family.

Arrangements were entrusted to Cornerstone Funeral Home & Cremations, 1052 South First St., Nashville, NC.

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