Leland King Crook (Mama)

Leland King Crook (Mama), of Decatur, Georgia, passed away Monday, March 14, 2022, at the age of 89. Mrs. Crook was predeceased by her husband, James ‘Roy' Crook, in 1992. Leland was born in Piney Grove (Fayetteville), North Carolina, on April 17, 1932. Her parents were Leon Hubert King and Nora Sutton King. Mrs. Crook's children are her son, Griff Crook and his wife Rhonda of Oxford, Georgia; and her daughter, Cindy (Crook) Zurinskas and her companion Ron, of Tacoma, Washington. Leland has one surviving sibling, her brother Bobby and his wife Jackie (“more like a sister”, said Mama), of Davenport, Florida. Leland's favorite cousin Jewel, of St. Augustine, Florida, survives, and remembers when she and Leland used to “get into a mess”, as young girls, in good natured fun. Leland’s husband, Roy, had two sons, James and Roy (Ann), who predeceased her. James’s wife, Rae, of Florida survives Leland. Leland had many good friends. For years Leland considered her caregiver, Rudell, her very dear friend. Mrs. Pucket, originally of Decatur, has been a faithful friend to Leland since her own mother passed. The staff at Philips Tower in Decatur, where Leland lived for 26 years, (and volunteered for many years), were dear friends. Pat, “her twin”, who predeceased her, was a best friend to Leland at Philips Tower. Belvedere United Methodist, now defunct, was a source of joy to Leland. She taught Sunday school and led lay services there for years. Leland traveled on many outings with members of her church, and she was very sad when the church closed, as many of the members had passed away. She graduated Valedictorian from her high school in NC. Then, she went on to graduate from East Carolina College at Greenville, NC, earning her teacher’s credential. She taught high school English Literature. Also, she worked as an Internal Revenue Tax Examiner. Additionally, she was a bookkeeper in her husband's Roy's paint business. And, importantly, she was a homemaker. She lived independently until the age of 87, saying,” I want to remain independent as long as I can.” Enjoying her life in her home, even using her computer to order her groceries online. Mrs. Crook’s family is grateful for the care she received at Riverside Care Center of Covington in the last year. So, many at Riverside were kind, but Mama especially loved her nurse, Latisha, and her CNA, Miss Pat. Overton Dermatology of Covington's, Seth Park, PA, and staff gave warm and compassionate care, and told us “how sweet your Mama is/was.” Dr. Cote of ENT Specialists took a special interest in “Mrs. Crook”, advocating for her care, calling the family personally in early morning hours, to discuss her care, remarking how “sharp she is.” The doctors and staff at Emory Head and Neck were kind to “Mama”, allowing her brother, Bobby, valuable time with Leland. Well, Being Transportation owner, Charles Samuel, went above and beyond to help. The family is especially indebted to Reverend Dwight Elder, an old dear friend of Griff’s who will officiate Mrs. Crook's Memorial service at Sherwood Memorial Park in Jonesboro on April 8, 2022. Thank you, as well, to Caldwell and Cowan's representative, Scott, who handled the arrangements with kindness and integrity. Leland lived her life in faith. In fact, her daughter’s nickname for her was ‘Faithful'. She trusted in God. She often said, “God has a way of working things out.” With her faith in tow, she was an adventurer, traveling across the United States alone at the age of 75, via Amtrak from Atlanta to Seattle to visit her daughter and grandchildren. She jumped on the grandkids trampoline. She went on the park swings with her grandchildren, singing, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" , just as she had when her own children were small. When she sang hymns, she joked that she “made a joyful noise”. At the end of her life, she was sure that she had “sold some of her songs to Alan Jackson” and would be “receiving royalties.” However, her astounding memory ability persisted, and she casually remarked, “God's Gift.” Leland had been legally blind since a childhood bout with “the big red measles” (according to her brother, Bobby) had affected her vision. She never let it stop her, though. In fact, her intellect, her sharpness, was remarked on upon by almost everyone that knew her. She was a scholar, reading studying, retaining, and sharing knowledge. She read the Bible straight through every year since 1992. She could quote chapter and verse. Yet, she was humble. She, often, won trivia games at Philips Tower and aced the television show, Jeopardy, nightly. She quoted poems from high school. She knew every single president and their vice presidents. Her recall of history was prodigious. She was a remarkable person who lived her life with joy and integrity. She was extraordinary in her caring for her family. She was a phone call away to her daughter, Cindy, at all hours, saying, “I’ve got two good ears.” She walked, daily, the two miles to the nursing home where her husband, Roy, had been for two years, until finally, her son, Griffin, had to insist that he drive her. She was happy in the love of her family, and her God. She was kind and patient and warm. Ron called her “Jolly.” Mama loved Rhonda's potato salad, and really anything Rhonda brought her. Mama said of Rhonda: She’s a good cook! She, also, said of Rhonda, “She’s good to Griffin; he's lucky to have her!” She was exceptionally proud of Griffin, calling Cindy to talk about his accomplishments, and to say how grateful she was to have him close to her, and to have him available to help her. He was there for her and for Daddy, just as faithful as she was, following in her example of how to live a life of being there for the ones you love, and she loved him dearly for it. In closing this writing, and the life of Leland King Crook (Mama), it would be important to her to mention the eleven siblings who predeceased her and her brother, Bobby. They came from a big family of 13 children. They are: Baby Nora Elizabeth, Baby Glister Mae, Ada Merle, George Robert (G.R.), Alma, Gerald, Leon Hubert, Davis Eldon, Wilbur, Lois, and Virda. With so many brothers and sisters, Leland has many nieces and nephews, most of whom live in Florida and North Carolina. Finally, Leland (Mama) was Nannie (Grandmother), and Mama to numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was loved.

This obituary was prepared with love and affection by Mrs. Crook's family.