Family of Withheld and Eulalia COOK

Husband:	Withheld ( - )
Wife:	Eulalia COOK (1913-2001)

Husband: Withheld

Name:	Withheld
Sex:	Male
Father:	-
Mother:	-

Wife: Eulalia COOK

Name:	Eulalia COOK
Sex:	Female
Father:	Rev. John "Ed' Edward COOK (1882-1943)
Mother:	Lillian Ellen "Emily" COX ( -1938)
Birth	7 Nov 1913
Death	14 Jul 2001 (age 87)

Note on Marriage

Living Parent(s) - Details withheld

Note on Husband: Withheld

Living Individual - Details withheld

Note on Wife: Eulalia COOK

The Greenville News - Tuesday, July 17, 2001

 

Eulalia Cook-Gonzales, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Mrs. Eulalia Cook-Gonzales, 87, retired United Methodist Missionary and

Founder of Alfalit International Inc., died Saturday morning, July 14,

2001, at the home of friends in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

 

Mrs. Cook-Gonzales was an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in

Cuba, and a member of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United

Methodist Church. Born Nov. 7, 1913, in Little River, she was the daughter

of the late Emily Cox Cook and the Rev. John Edward Cook. She was a

graduate of Davenport Junior College, Lenoir, N.C., and Columbia College

in Columbia. After teaching for several years in the public schools of South

Carolina, she attended Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville,

Tenn., where she received an advanced degree. Later, she attended post-

graduate courses at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University,

Vanderbilt University, Scarritt, and Candler School of Theology, Emory

University.

 

Mrs. Cook-Gonzales began her missionary service in rural Cuba in 1940.

From the outset she recognized the great obstacle of widespread illiteracy

and so began an early literacy campaign. She founded and directed the

Department of the Rural Church of Union Theological Seminary in Matanzas,

Cuba, and was instrumental in beginning Branscomb Publications, a

forerunner of Alfalit.

 

In 1960, because of the political environment in Cuba, it became necessary

for her and others in the mission field to leave. Thereafter she lived

primarily in Costa Rica, but worked and traveled extensively throughout

Central and South America. During this time she and others established the

Alfalit program, which is devoted to spreading the Christian faith through

literacy, literature, basic education, nutrition and community development.

Mrs. Cook-Gonzales' writings for Alfalit and other publishers included six

books for new readers. Alfalit has enjoyed significant growth and now is

active not only in Central and South American, but also in portions of

Africa, Europe, and the United States.

 

Following her retirement from active service in the mission field, she

returned to the United States where she served for 10 years as director

of the founder's office of Alfalit, which had earlier moved its headquarters

to Miami, Fla.

 

In 1982, she married Don Justo Gonzales, a widower. He and his first wife,

Luisa, had been co-founders of Alfalit and had also left Cuba in the early

1960's. He died in 1994. In later years, because of declining health, Mrs.

Cook-Gonzales chose to return to Costa Rica to live with friends.

 

Surviving are two sisters, Sue Cook of Hampton, and Elizabeth "Betty" Gaddy

(R.R. Jr.) of Fork; a brother, W.A. "Al" Cook, of Fripp Island; a stepson,

Justo Gonzales, of Atlanta, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding

her death were a sister, Ovaline Cook; and two brothers, the Rev. Dr. Pierce

E. Cook Sr. and John Edward Cook Jr.

 

A memorial service will be held in Costa Rica. Another, as yet unscheduled,

will be held at Pergamus United Methodist Church near Lake City, with

interment at the Cook Cemetery.

 

The family suggests that those who wish may make memorials to the Eulalia

Fund, Alfalit International, Inc., 8125 NW 33 St., Miami, FL 33122.

Brockington Funeral Home, Lake City, is in charge.