Carlene M. Cooke

May 29, 1941 - March 5, 2022

On Saturday, March 5th, 2022, we lost our amazing wife, mother, and grandmother, Carlene M. Cooke. She was 80 years old. Carlene was born on May 29th, 1941 in Lumberton, NC to the late Howard Campbell McDaniel and the late Lennie Blue Bryant. Her brother, Charles Michael McDaniel, also has passed. She is survived by her husband, Jim Cooke of Centreville, daughter Susan Donnelly (Brian) of Stevensville, daughter Karen Werber (Scott) of Olney, son Douglas Cooke of Olive Branch, MS, and her grandchildren: Jennifer Donnelly, Allison Donnelly, and Mikayla Werber. She loved them all very, very much. According to Carlene, her greatest accomplishment was her family – being a wife, mom and grandmama. Carlene grew up in Lumberton, North Carolina, graduating as Valedictorian at Lumberton High School. She attended Duke University before graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Teaching from George Washington University. However, one Christmas night, Carlene met Jim, the love of her life on a blind date. After two years at Duke, she had to choose between Duke and Jim. Jim got lucky. They started their life together living in Arlington, VA for five years, then 41 years in Calverton, MD and the last 14 years in Symphony Village of Centreville, MD. Carlene loved children. She worked as a preschool teacher for twenty years for Calverton-Beltsville, MD Co-Op and Aspen Hill, MD Co-Op before retiring in 1996. After retiring from teaching, she continued working as a Gift Planning Administrator for the University of Maryland, the Humane Society of America, and the Foundation for Fighting Blindness for approximately twenty years. Carlene was also very involved in her community. She served several years in Symphony Village on the Outreach Program (including as President), Grandchildren’s Halloween Party (Co-Chair), Card/Games Party (Co-Chair), Quilting Club (Chair), and assisted with the Bingo Group. In addition, she served on the Queen Anne’s Chorale Board (including as President). Carlene liked to say that she was the “non-singing member” of the Chorale. Carlene touched many lives – friends and neighbors became extended family. She was a warm, thoughtful and most important, kind woman who cared about others. Her smile would light up a room and her thoughtfulness for all was unmatched. Many of her friendships have lasted over 50 years. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 pm on March 20, 2022 at the Centreville Methodist Church (608 Church Hill Road, Centreville, MD 21617). A reception will follow at the Symphony Village Clubhouse (100 Symphony Way, Centreville, MD 21617). In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or the Foundation for Fighting Blindness (donate.fightingblindness.org).