Nera Belle Cook, age 91, of Columbus, Georgia passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2020. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 10:00 am until 10:45 am in the St. Elmo room of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia. A graveside service will follow at 11:00 am in Parkhill Cemetery.
Nera was born August 18, 1929, the daughter of Captain Vanriper Hancock and Alfie Posey Hancock. She attended High School in Buena Vista, GA and was employed by Sunshine Biscuit Company for over 40 years. As a child growing up in the depression era, she learned the value of love, of family, hard work, being frugal, and taking care of what means most to you. She had a big heart, always wanting to take care of everyone and making sure they always had what they needed and wanted. She met the love of her life, Edward A. Cook, and married him at 16 years old. They started a family five years later, and she devoted herself to her family and hard work to give them all she possibly could. She taught her family how to be honest, forthright, caring, hardworking and most of all have unconditional love. She always had a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, and they brought so much joy and laughter to her life. She will forever be remembered for her loving nature. The unconditional love that she gave her family was overwhelming. She was a legacy in her own time and was the foundation that set her family standing firm that generations to come will forever cherish. She was a true matriarch and she will be missed deeply.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward A. Cook; her sisters, Francis Smith, Era Hastings, and Beatrice Thompson; and her brother, Chester Hancock.
Survivors include her daughter, Wanda Crowe; son, Ricky Cook; sister, Betty Jean Hanner; her grandchildren, Tammy Gunn (Richard) and Tiffany Tuthill (Terry); her great-grandchildren, Brittany Bertacini (Charles), Nicole Tuthill, Hunter Jackson, Carson Fuller, Kendall Kissane, and Megan Brush; and her great-great-grandchildren, Mia Hutto and Waverly Frazier.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Cook family.
