Mary Lee Cook, a 70-year resident of Selma, fell asleep in death on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015.

Mary Lee was born April 15, 1920, in Dublin, Miss. to Fred and Mattie Beulah Roberts. She moved with her family to Galveston, Texas where she graduated from Ball High School. Mary Lee met and married Elmer L. Cook in 1940, who preceded her in death in 1972.

Survivors include her children, Mary Kay Osburn, Elmer L. Cook II and wife Michelle Cook and Robert L. “Bob” Cook and wife Mary Alice Cook; grandchildren, Tonya Monique “Nicki” Collins and husband Craig Collins, Elmer L. (Trey) Cook III, Marvin Osburn and wife Monrona (Mona) Osburn, Allen Osburn and wife Bonnie, Amber Cook Brazier and husband Jeff Brazier, Chip Cook and Drew Cook; as well as great-grandchildren, Gabriella, Abigail, Samuel, Asher, Hope, Meggan, Coby, Bailey, Madison, Katie and Landon; brothers, James Roberts and Gilbert Roberts and wife Marie; and numerous nieces; nephews; and in-laws.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary Lee is also preceded in death by brothers, Norman, Allen, Leonard and Ernest Roberts; and sisters, Dorothy Johnson and Frances Roberts.

Mary Lee was a kind, thoughtful, loving and caring individual admired and loved by all who knew her.  She had a beautiful smile, a joyful spirit, was always full of energy and devoted a lifetime of caring for others. Mary Lee enjoyed hosting friends and family in her home for visits and especially meals. She always had a fully-stocked fridge and freezers and, at a moment’s notice, would prepare one of her delicious feasts, at the end of each of which she would always ask her guests what they wanted for the next meal. As a young girl, she lovingly looked after her younger siblings following her mother’s death. She was born to fulfill the role of a mother, and that was evident to everyone who knew her, including her nieces and nephews. It was what she did best! Mary Lee was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1974 and was a faithful servant of Jehovah God for nearly 40 years. She made a full-time commitment to spreading the word throughout the community and teaching Bible study classes. Mary Lee worked tirelessly throughout her life. As a young girl, she worked hard to keep up with her older brothers when picking cotton in the family’s cotton fields and as an adult enjoyed a long-time civil service career which began at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston. She enjoyed a 20-year career at Craig Air Field in Selma. Mary Lee was an avid gardener and was knowledgeable beyond belief on all kinds of plants. Discovering a new type of plant was exciting to her, and all she ever needed to produce a beautiful plant was a small clipping and her green thumb. Mary Lee was always full of energy and enjoyed and looked forward to many daily activities, including her daily walks, which fueled her both physically and mentally. As a wife and mother, Mary Lee enjoyed caring for her family, sewing, boating and time at the beach with her family. Her love for the beach began in Galveston and later included visits to Dauphine Island, Gulf Shores, Destin and other Florida beaches. She also enjoyed watching movies, reading and traveling to many states within the U.S. including Hawaii, and to Russia. Trips were fun for her, and she never turned one down, her last one being a trip to Houston at the age of 93.

Visitation will be held at Lawrence Brown Funeral Home, 2900 Citizens Parkway, Selma, AL, on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 1 p.m. until 2p.m.with graveside services at 2:30 p.m. officiated by Aaron Ellis.