Juanita Cooke

Juanita Searles Cooke was born in McCormick, S.C. May 5, 1945 to the late William Searles Sr. and Elsie Walker Searles. She graduated from Mims Senior High School with Honors (Class of 1962) and she moved to the Nation's Capital where she was first employed in the Federal Government before having a long dedicated career with Verizon Telelcommunications. She departed her life Wednesday, January 21, 2009. She is survived by her husband of 35 years Joseph N. Cooke Jr. of Lanham, MD; two brothers, William Searles Jr. of Edison N.J. and Charles E. Searles of Washington, DC; a sister Vivian Searles of Sumter, S.C.; daughter Chrystal L. Searles of Alexandria, VA; two grandchildren, Spencer D. Mitchell and Nicollete K. Searles; and host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. A kind hearted devoted wife, mother, grandmother (loved those babies), family member and friend. She was always there in your time of need. Being the cornerstone of the family she stressed the high importance of family and people coming together. Always spoiling the young family members she lovingly called "her babies". Her many interests were cooking, reading romance novels, traveling, gardening, and "Shop until you drop". So if you went with her you had better have on some comfortable walking shoes and nothing else to do that day. During her early years she was an avid bowler on a bowling league. As a teenager she joined the family church and continued her spiritual journey throughout her life, lastly attending Saint Bernard's Catholic Church with her husband, Joseph Cooke. Although having chronic ailments Juanita never complained, she just kept going. With an inspiring courage and faith in the power of God's mercy, grace, and blessings you can make it through all things. Saying sometimes "We think we are doing things on our own, but it's really God".