Rita Pearl Cooksie, age 87, died at home, in Louisville on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 after a long illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond C. Cooksie of Dallas, Texas. She was the oldest of 13 children, and is preceded in death by James, Arvin, Jr., Wendell, Gary, Stephen, Arlee, Mary Jane Jones and Wanda Broadnax.
Rita was Born on Sept. 3, 1929, in Cumberland County to the late Arvin and Lillie Jones. She Attended Jackman High School in Columbia from which she graduated in 1949. Upon graduating from high school, she lived in Louisville where she worked in the employ of the Blue Boar Restaurant. After relocating to Dallas, Texas, she resettled in Glensfork where she was an employee of Russell Sportswear for more than 20 years.
Rita was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as a Sunday School teacher and church treasurer as long as her health would permit. She loved reading, quilting and gardening.
She also loved to preserve various fruits and vegetables that she grew. She always had time for others, and was a caregiver for several members of the family when called upon.
Her greatest joy was her four girls. She was proud of the noteworthy accomplishments of each, and she shared each achievement with family and friends. Likewise, she had a great and abiding love for her grandchildren and did not miss an opportunity to show it.
She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin and friend. She will be missed by all, and will always be in our hearts and thoughts.
Celebrating her life, and cherishing the beautiful memories, she leaves a loving and devoted family including her daughters, Ina Cooksie, Kathy Cooksie Neal (Gerald), and Carolyn Cooksie, of Louisville and Jancie Collins (Fred) of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren, Kris Yocum, Shauna Arthur, Brandon Neal, Kristin Neal, Drew, Blake and Grant Collins; great grandchild, Jada Arthur; sisters, Pat Eddington and Deborah Thomas; brothers, Maxwell Jones and Thurman Jones (Margaret).
A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many devoted and loving friends also survive.
Funeral service was Saturday, Feb. 18 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Albert Taylor delivering the eulogy with burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Casket bearers were Dwight Sweeney, Robert Henderson, Larin Jones, Carl Jones, Mark Jones and Mickel Britt.
Flower bearers were Janie Henderson, Bernice Bigham. Karen Smith, Teresa Talley, Terryl Graves, Patricia Britt and Alice Graves.
Grissom-Martin Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements. Visit www.grissommartin.com.
