The Greene & Pickens Black Families Association
The Cook Family Reunion
The history behind the Cook family reunion. Charles A. Cook, Sr. came to Greene County,
Alabama from the state of Virginia as a slave. The approximate time is unknown. Charles A.
Cook, Sr. was born in 1823. He married Sarah Ann, a full blooded native American woman
born in 1826. According to the 1870 United States Federal Census, Charles and Sara were
listed as domestic servants.
Ten children, nine boys and one girl were born of this union: Arthur Cook, George Cook,
Napolean Cook, Charles A. Cook, Jr., William Penn Cook, Monroe Cook, Albert Cook,
Madison Cook, Pauline Cook and G. Sherman Cook. Pauline, the only daughter, died
young, most likely between 1871 and 1880. No records exist for her in the 1880 United
States Federal Census.
In the year 1881, approximately one acre of land was donated to the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church by Charles and Sarah for $1. The church became known as Cook's
Chapel A.M.E Zion Church which also served as a school. Reverend Madison Cook and
Reverend Charles A. Cook, Jr. were two of six trustees. Albert Cook was one of four to
witness the signing of the deed. In 1885, Charles A. Cook Sr. and his sons began
purchasing additional land in the Greene County area amounting to nearly 1000 acres in an
area known as Cook Hill presently located on Cook Road.
There are two cemeteries on the Cook property. Charles died August 21, 1897 at age 74.
Sarah died June 18, 1890 at age 60. Both are buried in Cook Cemetery #1 with their
offspring. Cook Cemetery #2 is located less than 1/2 miles from the original cemetery
adjacent to Cook Road. The Cooks normally meet every two years. Their next reunion is
going to take place in 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
The history behind the Cook family reunion. Charles A. Cook, Sr. came to Greene County,
Alabama from the state of Virginia as a slave. The approximate time is unknown. Charles A.
Cook, Sr. was born in 1823. He married Sarah Ann, a full blooded native American woman
born in 1826. According to the 1870 United States Federal Census, Charles and Sara were
listed as domestic servants.
Ten children, nine boys and one girl were born of this union: Arthur Cook, George Cook,
Napolean Cook, Charles A. Cook, Jr., William Penn Cook, Monroe Cook, Albert Cook,
Madison Cook, Pauline Cook and G. Sherman Cook. Pauline, the only daughter, died
young, most likely between 1871 and 1880. No records exist for her in the 1880 United
States Federal Census.
In the year 1881, approximately one acre of land was donated to the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church by Charles and Sarah for $1. The church became known as Cook's
Chapel A.M.E Zion Church which also served as a school. Reverend Madison Cook and
Reverend Charles A. Cook, Jr. were two of six trustees. Albert Cook was one of four to
witness the signing of the deed. In 1885, Charles A. Cook Sr. and his sons began
purchasing additional land in the Greene County area amounting to nearly 1000 acres in an
area known as Cook Hill presently located on Cook Road.
There are two cemeteries on the Cook property. Charles died August 21, 1897 at age 74.
Sarah died June 18, 1890 at age 60. Both are buried in Cook Cemetery #1 with their
offspring. Cook Cemetery #2 is located less than 1/2 miles from the original cemetery
adjacent to Cook Road. The Cooks normally meet every two years. Their next reunion is
going to take place in 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
