Mary Frances Cooke (Nee Roe)

SEAFORD - Mary Frances was born Feb. 22, 1924, to Pierson Montague Roe and Marguerite Milby Roe of Chapel District, Cordova, Md. When her father was named Post Master of Cordova they moved from the farm to town. She attended the Cordova Schools and was a member of the Basketball and Field Ball Teams of the High School. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class in 1941. She was a 1945 graduate of the Delaware Hospital School of Nursing, passing her Boards to be a Registered Nurse. On Oct. 11, 1944, she married the Reverend R. Jervis Cooke, then a Chaplain with the U.S. Navy. After the war they settled into parish life at the Methodist Church in Trappe, Md. They also served other Methodist Churches: Epworth, Centreville, Md.; St. John's, Seaford; Trinity, Salisbury, Md.; and on the Wilmington District when her husband was Superintendent; The Newark United Methodist Church. When her husband held administrative positions in Dover she took an active role in the Wesley Church. During the time of his Presidency of Wesley College she was a gracious hostess to the students, faculty, trustees and many others. When the children were grown she had an active role of service on her own. She was Vice President of the Auxiliary of Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., and a Director of Neighborhood House, Wilmington, where she chaired the Finance Committee. She served two terms as President of The Peninsula Conference United Methodists Women; Dean of the Conference School of Christian Mission; two terms as President of Church Women United of Delaware. She was a lay delegate to the Methodist General Conference of 1976 in Portland, Ore., and to the Jurisdictional Conferences of 1976 and 1980. She was a member of the World Methodist Conference in Hawaii. In 1993 the National Organization of Church Women United recognized her as the second Delaware woman to be designated A Valiant Woman. She is survived by her husband, The Rev. Dr. Raymond Jervis Cooke; her children, Mrs. Joanne Cooke and her husband Don Gowins of Galestown, Md., the Rev. Dr. Bruce Cooke and wife Gail of Selbyville, Mrs. Linda Chantler of Milton, Mr. Gary Cooke and wife Elena of Milton, and Mr. Steve Cooke of Atlanta Ga.;15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She has lived at the Methodist Manor House, Seaford, for sixteen years and has been a patient with Alzheimer's in the Health Center for more than six years. She died in the presence of her beloved family on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009. Graveside Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Barrat's Chapel Cemetery, Frederica. A Memorial Service will be held at St. John's United Methodist Church, Pine and Poplar streets, on Saturday at noon, followed by a luncheon and visitation. Instead of flowers, it is suggested that gifts be made to the Benevolence Fund of the Methodist Manor House, 1001 Middleford Road, Seaford, DE 19973. Arrangements by the Cranston Funeral Home, Seaford.