Walker Edward Cook, Jr., of Griffin died Monday, July 31, 2017, at WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital following a brief illness.

Walker was born on September 28, 1937, in Hardeeville, South Carolina and had lived in Griffin since 1970. He is preceded in death by his parents Elizabeth McKenzie Cook, Walker Edward Cook, Sr., and sister, Dianne Cook Weeks.

As an athlete at Pineview High School, Walker excelled in basketball and received a scholarship to Georgia Teachers College, now Georgia Southern University. After graduating with a bachelor's degree, he became a varsity basketball coach at Pike County High School in Zebulon, Georgia   He then received a master's degree in counseling and became a counselor at Pike County High School.  

After his coaching and counseling career, he became the Elementary Curriculum Director for the Griffin-Spalding County School System. His greatest joys professionally were to teach life through sports to his players and to encourage students to pursue their dreams and become productive citizens.

Walker had been a member of the Griffin Rotary Club since 1971, and he truly lived the
Rotary motto of service above self.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church of
Griffin, a volunteer recreational coach, a former City Commissioner, and a former Mayor of Griffin.   

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Jo Ward Cook, and his daughter, Barbara Joy Cook Kulp and husband Robert of Griffin and his son, Walker Edward Cook, III, and wife Andrea of Moody, Alabama.  Affectionately called PaPa by his six grandchildren, he is survived by Hannah Joy Kulp, Robert Arthur Kulp, III, Elizabeth McKenzie Kulp, Cooper Edward Cook, Olivia Kate Cook, and Parker David Cook.  In addition, he is survived by his sister, Delores Cook Stock of Hawkinsville, Georgia.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 3, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home.  The service of celebration and remembrance will be held on Friday, August 4, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Griffin.  Dr. Bill Hardee will officiate. Members of the Griffin Rotary Club and former basketball players and athletes at Pike County High School will serve as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation, 501 Varsity Road, Griffin, Georgia 30223.

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