Clara Hughes Cooke

AIKEN, SC – Clara Hughes Cooke, widow of Harry Conrad Cooke, passed away Wednesday March 18, 2015 surrounded by her children. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday March 22 at Charles Wesley Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Bennett officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Pablo Alonso, Bill Carroll, Conrad Cooke, Cullen Cooke, Frank Hughes Dunbar, and Tien Nguyen. Clara was born in Franklin, NC, a daughter of the late William Irvin Hughes and Anna Mae Dowdle Hughes. The fifth of seven children, Clara grew up near Silva and in Rutherford College, NC during the “Great Depression” and was part of the “Greatest Generation”. She moved to Aiken in 1953 with Harry with the opening of the Savannah River Plant. Clara loved working in public and was employed in retail with many of downtown business including J. B. Whites, Coleman’s Shoes, Aiken Drug, Casual Hut, and B. C. Moore’s. She was well read and continued to read up to shortly before her death. She deeply loved and delighted in her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her beloved friend Eileen Bracco. During the last few months of her life, Clara loved her residence, her friends, and the staff at Cumberland Hills where she liked to play Bingo. She was a dedicated member of Charles Wesley Methodist Church and served as President of United Methodist Women there. She is remembered for being helpful and involved. Mrs. Cooke is survived by two daughters, Margaret Ann Dunbar, Aiken, Martha “Marty” Louise (Bill) Carroll, Penn Valley, CA; a son William Conrad (Lorraine) Cooke, Montmorenci, SC; six grandchildren, Angela Valley Vitense, Molli Brown Dunbar, Frank Hughes Dunbar, Cullen Conrad Cooke, Aidan Lorraine Cooke, Michael Johns Dunbar; four great grandchildren, Claire Eve Wasilewski, Jax Owen Vitense, Eann Cole Dunbar, Bode John Vitense. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Cumbee Center, 135 Lancaster St SW, Aiken, SC 29801. The family will receive friends from Saturday March 21 from 5-7 PM at SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801 Mrs. Cooke’s online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clara Hughes Cooke, please visit our flower store.