Nettie Leona Cook

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Nettie Leona Cook was born June 16, 1910 in Champaign, Illinois, the second oldest child of Fred and Elizabeth Louis. She had an older sister, Elizabeth, and a younger brother, Fred. She attended grade school, junior high and graduated from the Champaign Senior High School in 1927.

After high school, she married Ernest Cook, Co-Owner of the Cook Brothers Emporium in downtown Champaign.

She began a very active civic life in the Champaign-Urbana Community, serving as the Corresponding Secretary of the Champaign-Urbana Kindergarten Association. She was also co-founder and past officer of the Royalettes - a civic-minded club; Worthy Matron of Deborah Chapter #27, Order of Eastern Star; Financial Secretary of the Champaign County Section of NCNW; Telecare Volunteer, and Election Judge. As a devoted member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, she served as Treasurer of the Missionary Society, and the Church Building Fund Raiser. She was a dedicated representative to Church Women United and she served on the Stewardess Board. For all of these activities, she received many service awards.

She retired in 1976, after 26 years of administrative service at the Chanute Air Force Base. She was also a charter member of the National Council of Negro Women, Champaign County section.

She was the mother of one daughter. Nettie Cook died November 22, 1996.