Mr. Bernard Cooke

Mr. Bernard Earl Cooke, 74, departed his earthly home on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital following a brief illness. 
Bernard, endearingly known by family and friends as “Bernie”, began his life’s journey on May 11, 1949, in Newport News, Virginia.  

The third son of the late Garth Delman Cooke, Sr. and Vernell B. Cooke, Bernie spent his childhood in the close-knit community of North Newport News and became a life member of Emmanuel Baptist Church.  Bernie was educated in the Newport News Public School System, graduating from George Washington Carver High School in the Class of 1967.  In 1969, Bernie joined the United States Army serving with an air defense unit in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Bernie returned to civilian life with employment at the Newport News Shipyard (now Huntington Ingalls Industries) as a pipefitter whose hard work and dedicated service contributed to a forty-nine-year career. Bernie was part of a family of outdoorsmen who enjoyed hunting and fishing.  A crossword puzzle enthusiast, Bernie also spent hours listening to Classic Soul R&B music, cleaning his car/truck and maintaining a pretty yard.

He was preceded in death by his parents Garth D. Cooke, Sr. and Vernell B. Cooke and his brothers Robert N. Cooke, Sr. and Garth D. Cooke, Jr.  Left to cherish his precious memories are nephews Robert N. Cooke, Jr. of  Raeford, NC and Garth D. Cooke, III of Clarksville, TN; nieces Caroline V. Cooke of  Savannah, GA and Sarah C. Braun of  Mililani, HI;  sister-in-law, LaWanda Cooke (the late Robert, Sr.) of Newport News, VA.; cousins Juanita Britt (Kenny) of Hampton, VA and Constance B. Williams (Wayne) of Newport News, VA who provided loving care during his brief illness, along with a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Military honors, for Mr. Cooke will be presented at the cemetery. 

It is the desire of the Cooke family to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

The family of Mr. Bernard Cooke has entrusted his final care to C. C. Carter Funeral Home, Inc.

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