Obituary of Darrel Cooke

Lugoff – A service to celebrate the life of George Darrel Cooke, 74, will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Powers Funeral Home with burial to follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.  The Rev. Eric Boone will officiate.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Foundation or Gideons International.  

Mr. Cooke passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at MUSC Kershaw Health Medical Center.  Born in Raleigh, N.C., he was the son of the late George Reuben and Madeline Whitley Cooke.  He retired from Signs Unlimited in Fort Mill, S.C. after working in the commercial sign business for over 30 years.  After his retirement, he followed his passion of helping and teaching children by driving a school bus for Kershaw County School District and tutoring at Lugoff Elementary. 

Mr. Cooke was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church and former member of St John United Methodist Church where he was the Children’s Sermon Pastor for over 40 years, and served as a youth leader, and Sunday School teacher.  As a young man, he was proud of his accomplishment of becoming an Eagle Scout.  Mr. Cooke enjoyed his children and grandchildren and always looked forward to the yearly Nina/Papaw Camp.  He also enjoyed reading, and spending time at the lake and beach with his family.  In his teenage years, his love for music allowed him to pursue enjoyment in working at WPUB Radio Station where he became known as “Cookie Jar”.

Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Wanda Peake Cooke; children, Anna Cooke Smith (Clay) of Apollo Beach, Fla., Erin Cooke Stephenson (Rob) of Daniel Island, S.C., Adam Peake (Anna) of Savannah, Ga., Jessica Peake Bowers (Jonathan) of Lugoff; sister, Sandra Cooke Wardlaw (Billy) of Lake Wateree; 2 nieces Terri Rudy (Mark) of Waxhaw, NC and Dawn Wardlaw of Lake Wateree, also two great nephews Jackson and Nicholas Rudy of Waxhaw, NC and grandchildren, McRae Stephenson, Bennett Smith, Madilyn Bowers, Riley Smith, Brewer Stephenson, and Jackson Bowers.  He was predeceased by his first wife of 25 years, Carol Kelly Cooke.