Bessie Anne Cook

Bessie Anne Cook February 4, 1945—May 15, 2026 Bessie A. Cook, 81, of Denton, Maryland, passed away on May 15, 2026 at the Resort at Chester River Manor in Chestertown, Maryland. Bessie was born on February 4, 1945 in Dover, Delaware to the late Anna Mae (William) Johns & the late Nathaniel Branch Jackson. Bessie grew up in Delaware & Talbot County. Later in life, she was baptized in the United Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Thomastown, MD, under the pastor of the late Bishop James Linwood Brown. She graduated from Moton High School Class of 1964 & she enrolled in some nursing assistant courses at Chesapeake College. However, she decided to work at Caroline Poultry until 1973. Then, she worked at Allen Family Foods, Inc. in Cordova, MD until she retired. Bessie loved to laugh & learning new ways to try things, such as baking & cooking from scratch. When she was a teenager, she made her dresses for school, like her mother. Instead of buying potholders for her new home; she used her needlework skills by showing me, her daughter, how to crochet many potholders that are cherished today. In her relaxing time, she solved the TV Guide crossword puzzles, finding word search, number search puzzles along with she enjoyed listening to gospel, bluegrass/country, & solid golden oldies music. Furthermore, she attended & participated in 4-H events along with she was a beloved member of the Moton Alumni. On March 19, 1990, Bessie married Howard Leon Cook. They spent 59 wonderful years together, 36 years married. She is survived by her husband, Howard from Denton, MD; her daughter, Anna Jackson from Oxford, MD; her grandchildren, Luis Jackson from Hewitt, TX & Anjelica Mercado from Denton, MD; her great-grandchildren Xavier & Silas Jackson, Esme & Santana Clancy all from TX; along with her brother, Herbert Jackson from Cambridge, MD; her sister, Rebecca Benson from Harrington, DE; & her brother, Charles Johns from Easton, MD. Furthermore, she is survived by her three nieces, Mary (David) Darrell from Dover, DE; Bonita Benson from Harrington, DE; & Aniké Schulties from Salisbury, MD; a nephew, George Acree, Jr; along with great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, & friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, her two sons, her sister, Ellinor Jackson-Carter; her niece, Ellen Lewis; her nephew, Edmund Benson, Jr, & her great-nephew, Vincent Benson. The family is asking for privacy at this difficult time. However, there are no current funeral arrangements with Bennie Smith Funeral Home in Easton, MD.

Bessie Anne Cook

February 4, 1945 - May 15, 2026