Today, June 14th, has been six months since mom passed away.
Hard to believe it’s been that long. Sometimes harder to believe it hasn’t been longer.
There are a number of images of mom in my head that I can see any time I want to, whether my eyes are closed or not. I thought I would share a few in memory on this day. Read the rest of this entry »
Mom was always remarkable at keeping spectacular company. Five minutes with the most reserved in character would find them friends. Made friends were friends forever, no matter how often they crossed paths. As an observation, that ability served her well the whole of her life. A favorite example is found in recalling that she was the student body vice president in college, having vowed to meet three new people per day in her undergraduate career.
On the 14th of May, four months after she passed away, I spent the day serving myself a reminder of the kinds of people I have been fortunate to surround myself with. To make fast friends and keep them, a skill among the best she could have shared with me. For my part I know the people in both our lives have been what continues to save me and keep me strong.
Finding me here today, May 18th, the day a year ago that we left for Houston to begin battling her newly diagnosed Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a precursor to her eventual Leukemia. Read the rest of this entry »
Joellen died peacefully on January 14th, 2010. She was the daughter of the late Robert Cleveland and Ruth Naomi Williams. Joellen was an educator, writer and philanthropist. She treasured her time as a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend and a lover of life to those she held close to her heart. A spiritual woman, Joellen cherished her interaction with those of other faiths, cultures and backgrounds. She loved life and lived it to the fullest each day. She was a woman of integrity and honesty. Her memories will be cherished by friends and family and her spirit will forever be with her loved ones.
Memorial Services for Joellen Marie Cook will be held on January 30th at Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia, SC at 12:00 noon. A gathering will follow at Ashland United Methodist Church at 1:30pm. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sharing God’s Love in Irmo, SC or the Cook Scholarship Fund at the United Methodist Church of South Carolina. More details can be found, here.
She is survived by her immediate family – her son, Pierce Embree Cook, III, her sister, Vicki Clement of Greenville, her brother, Jeff Williams of Charleston, and also by so many who touched her deeply through friendship, love and companionship.
Hello again,
Since the 14th I have been overwhelmed with a massively generous outpouring of praise, thanks, and love for my mom. What an experience just these past few days have been. My thanks for everyone’s kind words and offers!
In celebration of my mother, a memorial will be held on Saturday, January 30th. Read the rest of this entry »
Hello all,
This is Pierce again. Today, January 14th, is my birthday, and on this day that all of you so generously celebrate my birth, I ask that our thoughts and wishes be with my beautiful and loving mother who, just this evening, left us for the the next great adventure. A simple country girl at heart, and forever loved by so many, she peacefully passed away in the early evening.
She passed with great comfort, and surrounded by friends and family. Thank you all for so graciously keeping up with her and sharing your life and love. I intend to keep this website alive to share her wonderful thoughts and perhaps eventually more of my own.
Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers.
All my love,
Pierce