Alton D. Cook

Alton Darnell Cook "Donnie" was born to Charles Alton and Ruth Omega Cook on July 30, 1954.  He was the oldest of seven children and he took the role of big brother seriously until the end of his life.  Donnie could be counted on to defend, encourage cheer and on occasion correct loudly.  The Cook family was where Donnie learned his sense of family loyalty, community, strong love and how to properly tell a "slightly" embellished story.  He shared close friendships with his siblings and cousins.  In fact, they were often the subject of his great stories and accomplices in the stores that we don't talk about.

Donnie attended Hillcrest High School where he fell in love and later married Frances Roberson in February of 1974.  He was a devoted husband and remained crazy in love and affectionate until parted by death.  Donnie and Fran had two children, Sonia and AJ. He was a fantastic dad; some might say the best.

Donnie was baptized at a young age but it was as an adult that he really developed a relationship with the Lord.  He joined Great Hope M.B. Church and made it a practice to read his Bible daily and pray before he would leave the house.  He later joined Faith United and the Living Springs.  He wasn't big on quoting verses but he was big on living them.

After the death of his first wife Alton found love again.  Veronica Fisher made him a happy man when she agreed to marry him.  He loved her well until they were parted by death.  From this union, Alton gained two bonus children, Michael and Amari.  Again, he did a great job.

Alton was not just passionate about his family but he was passionate about family in general.  He wanted to see every family do well and he was especially concerned about children, everybody's children.  He used his considerable talents to work in alternative high schools, big brother programs, community organizations and St. Coletta's Group Homes.  The work that he was surely born to do was a Markham Youth Committee and created a unique program to teach conflict resolution which he infused crucial information with humor, a pizza party and a graduation.  At BYS, Alton led group sessions and worked with the summer programs with brilliance.  At Camp Alton was the write of many original songs, a new games expert, a confinement, the judge an all-around fun.  There is not enough paper to tell of all the lives Alton "Donnie" touched and changed for the better.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frances Cook and his sister, Linda Jean Watts.

He leaves us all to carry on his legacy of loving people and fighting to keep families whole. Alton is survived by his beloved wife, Veronica Cook; his children, Sonia (Tyrone) Baity, Alton (Gina) Cook, Michael, Amari Fisher; godson, Bryce Cook; grandchildren, Jonathan, Justin, Kirsten, Elizabeth, Timothy, Kaitlynn, Hannah, Victoria, Amanda, Emily, Thomas, Titus, Thaddeus, Tristan and Rebecca; great grandchildren, Jaxson, Jasani, Laurie Marie and Giovanni; siblings, Lorraine, Barbara, Theartis Jenell and Juan.

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