Eloise (Dunwoody) Cook

Elizabeth Eloise Dunwoody Cook, age 99, of Lilburn, Georgia passed away on January 18, 2023. Eloise was born on July 15, 1923 in Autaugaville (Autauga County), Alabama. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Emory Cook; father, Guy Dunwoody; mother and stepfather, Mildred Tuten Dunwoody Preston and John Preston; sisters, Willie Mae Dunwoody, Lucile Dunwoody Rawcliffe, and Jean Thompson Buffington; brothers, Ernest and Jesse Dunwoody; and her eldest daughter, Carol Cook Turner.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Anita Cook Stephens and Jacqueline (Joe) Cook Odom; grandchildren, Derek Turner, Heather Turner, Shay (Tisha) Edwards, Anya Edwards, Kaj (Michael) Edwards Meehan, Jennifer Odom, Melissa (Chris) Odom Magill, Catherine (Joe) Odom Hooper, Patrick (Elena) Odom, and Daniel Odom; many great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She grew up in the Grant Park area, attended Atlanta’s Girls High, and worked for 20 years at Rich’s. Her married life took her around the South, living in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. She spent her “retirement years” in Thomasville, Georgia, before returning to the Atlanta area to live with her daughter Jacqueline’s family.

She answered to Elizabeth, Eloise, Ella, Mama, Mrs. Cook, Grandmama, Grandma, Grandma Ella, Grandma Cook, and more. She has been a grandmother and enthusiastic fan to her own and was also adopted by her extended in-laws’ families. If she loved you, she loved who you loved.

Eloise reveled in extended family holiday gatherings and frequent intimate family dinners. She delighted in her grandchildren and great grandchildren, always interested in their activities. She loved to see weddings and babies especially and traveled to the beach and family weddings through 2022.

She read the paper daily, cover to cover, even with a magnifying glass. She enjoyed keeping up with the news, even when she made fun of the endless political ads, and always voted. She loved watching the birds through her windows, accumulating quite a collection of birdfeeders. She loved watching Days of Our Lives, her “murder shows,” all kinds of court shows, and Family Feud. She loved to read, particularly romance and mysteries set in the South and small towns. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, even when she couldn’t see the pieces very well, and had the puzzle closet to prove it. She loved the color pink and never ate a meal without dessert, having a notorious sweet tooth.

A funeral service celebrating the life of Eloise will be held on February 4, 2023 at 11am, with the visitation at 10am at Swain Funeral Home in Baxley, Georgia. Rev. Ryan Lamb will officiate the service.

Interment will follow in Omega Cemetery, Baxley, Georgia.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.

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