Mary Anne Cook

Mary Anne Cook, age 85, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, leaving behind a beloved family, lasting friendships and a lifetime of cherished memories.

Mary Anne was born on November 27, 1940, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to James Foster Cook, Sr., and Mary Watkins Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents and younger brother James “Jimbo” Foster Cook, Jr.

She is survived by her sister Frances Cornelia “Connie” Vanderpool of Falls Church, VA; nephew Ronald “Ron” Franklin Vanderpool, Jr. (Kelli) of Dacula, GA; nieces Mamie Vanderpool Sheldrick (Drew) of Madison, AL; and Amanda Vanderpool Rippy of Brentwood, TN.

In addition, survived by great nieces and nephews: Ronald F. Vanderpool III “Trey” and Callan Virginia Vanderpool; Anna Frances Rippy, Mary Lillian “Lily” Rippy and Harrison “Harry” Foster Rippy; Andrew James “A.J.” Sheldrick, Elizabeth “Elise” Sheldrick Bogle (Brandon) and by great-great niece, Katherine “Katie” Grace Bogle.

Mary Anne was born and reared in Nashville and was a graduate of Harpeth Hall School. She loved swimming and tennis and attended Nakanawa Camp for Girls for many summers, even becoming a counselor years later. She attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate degree then obtained her Masters of Education from Peabody, also in Nashville. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and the Nashville Girls Cotillion. She obtained her second master’s degree from the University of Georgia, a Masters of Library Science.

Mary Anne had a great sense of adventure and loved to learn. She used her training and education to travel and apply her knowledge in various ways. During college she spent time working at Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks. She was fond of her time spent there and enjoyed time spent in nature. Additionally, she travelled to Germany for the ARMY to work in Stuttgard as a Morale, Welfare and Recreation Director in the late 60s.

When back in the states Mary Anne lived and worked in: Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Fairfax County, VA; Fredericksburg, VA; Atlanta, GA (twice); Nashville, TN; Jessup, GA (a town she was especially fond of); and Smyrna, GA. She was a lifelong educator teaching elementary students, serving as a librarian, a reading specialist and assisting children for whom reading was a second language.

Mary Anne was a member of the Junior League chapters in Nashville, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. She also was a devout Christian and an active church member. She often was a member of the Choir and a natural at finding harmonies.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Memorial Park at 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN. Funeral services will be on Friday, September 25, at 1:00 p.m. at the same location in the Chapel (Dignity Hall) with burial immediately to follow.