Carter Funeral Home humbly announces the peaceful transition of Ms. Leola Cooks, (61) of Union Springs, Alabama.

Affectionately known as “Bonchaes”, Ms. Cooks served the Bullock County community in the office of the Tax Assessor for decades.

Ms. Cooks transitioned into eternity, Monday, February 21, 2022, in Montgomery, AL The Commemoration of Life will begin with a public visitation, Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Carter Funeral Home.

The Farewell Celebration will be held Sunday, February 27, 2022, at 2:00 pm from the sanctuary of the Old Sardis Missionary Baptist Church, Sardis Community, Union Springs, AL. Rev. Dr. James Gochett, pastor of the Old Sardis Missionary Baptist Church will deliver the message of triumph. Service will be live-streamed (see clickable link below)

Interment will follow all services in the Church Cemetery.

In accordance with recommended COVID-19 Protocols, all attendees are requested to utilize appropriate facial coverings, maintain social distancing, and minimize physical contact.

On March 9, 1961, God blessed the union of the late Tom, Sr. and Mable Weems Cooks with the birth of a baby girl and nineteenth child they would name Leola Cooks. She would affectionately be called “Bonchaes”, as a nickname given by her godmother, Rochelle Finney.

Leola confessed and proclaimed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and united with Old Sardis Baptist Church where she served faithfully unto death. She coordinated many of the church functions and served in several capacities, including Financial Secretary, Church Trustee, and Program Coordinator. She was also one of the founding members of the Old Sardis Mass Choir. She truly loved God and her church family.

Leola was a proud product of the Bullock County School System and a 1978 Graduate of Bullock County High School. She established lasting memories and forever friendships with her classmates. She attended Chauncey Sparks Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in Business and later received a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration. She took great pride in her education and her alumni status.

Leola Cooks served her community with dignity and integrity. She understood the value of work ethic. Although Leola held several jobs in her life’s tenure, she committed to her professional career as Tax Assessor at Bullock County Revenue Commissioner’s Office for many years before retiring. She also fulfilled her civic duty as secretary of the Bullock County Executive Democratic Committee and a precinct inspector for many national, state, and local elections.

Bonchaes had a true passion for children and played an essential role in the rearing of most of her nieces and nephews, many of whom she accepted the role of a second mother. She acknowledged their accomplishments with honor and pride as her own. That pride was shown in the love and rearing of Christopher (Boo) Cooks and Devontae Pettway. Most recently she found much joy and love in her telephone and video chats with her great-great nephew, “Sweet Jayden” Mack. She also demonstrated her love and passion for children by advocating for the youth in the community and as being a foster parent with Seraaj. She enjoyed researching her family history and reading a variety of books and spent much of her leisure time watching Days of Our Lives, Little House on the Prairie, WWE Raw and Smackdown, and many western movies and series.

Leola exchanged her mortal body for immortality on Monday, February 21, 2021, surrounded by the love and a peace of her family. Those that she planned to meet in the resurrection are her parents- Tom, Sr. and Mable Weems Cooks, her siblings- Walter, Hudson Lee, Christine, Tom, Jr., Martha, Ada Louise, Curtis, Charles, Emmitte, Queen Victoria, Paris, Tommie Mae, Alfred and Martin Luther.

Those that are abound by the treasures and memories of Bonchaes’ life are her loving and devoted siblings—Vera Davis, Columbus, Georgia, Mable McKinnon, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Shepherd Cooks, Detroit, Michigan, Annie (Webster) Youngblood, Ruby (Kelvin) Stephens and Patricia Crawford, all of Union Springs, Alabama; sisters-in-law: Alberta Cooks, Detroit, Michigan, Lucy Cooks, Montgomery, Alabama, Ruth Cooks and Martha Cooks, Union Springs, Alabama; Godsons: Markeon (Shannon) and Shawtagous and Taureaun (Tachara) Crawford; Goddaughters: Shameka Maddox and Rhonda Anthony; adoptive mother figure-- Ella Mae Johnson; special niece and best friend- Dorothy Nobles; special nephew-Sammy Cooks; longtime best friend and sister- Irene Ross. Other friends include: Mary Turpin, Sandra Thomas, Donna Smith, Annie Gochett, Barbara Lewis, BJ Benton, Rev. Hawthorne and Neara Reed, Lisa Scott, Kathy Scott-Williams, and Lucretia Baldwin-Jernigan. Special Cousins: Jerome Townsend, Frazier Townsend, Charlene Baskin-Mitchell, Shirley Ivy, James Cooks and Charles Weaver and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

The Staff of Carter Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with The Final Life Celebration Arrangements for the late Ms. Leola “Bonchaes” Cooks