Victoria Gladys Cook Obituary
The services will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. The visitation will begin at 10am, followed by the Service at 11am at Anderson Funeral Service, Trenton.
Victoria "Vikki" Gladys Ross Cook was born December 30, 1931 in (Newark City Hospital) Newark, New Jersey to the late Joseph Emery Ross and Anna Bell Durant of South Carolina. Victoria's parents passed away when she was very young. Her maternal grandparents William and Lilla moved from Florence, North Carolina to Newark, New Jersey where they raised her and her four siblings, as they grew up on Hillside Place.
Her grandmother known as "Big Mamma" took them to Little Friendship Baptist Church where they were all baptized.
Victoria attended Newark public schools and was enrolled in an accelerated program at South Side High School and completed her courses early at the age of 16. She attended Union County College for three years and left to seek employment. While in High School she met Jerome "Pierce" Cook. They would later form their union and marry on June 19th 1953. From this union they had their daughter Jeri Michelle. Both proceeded her in death. Although she was a mother of one, she was a maternal figure to many of her nieces and nephews.
Victoria later accepted a position at Lockheed Martin and started as a clerk. She worked her way up to the position of Manager in Marketing Administration. With this position she received top secret clearance to travel and carry important documents. This allowed her the opportunity to travel throughout the United States and other countries. She would later take an early retirement from Lockheed Martin and accept a part-time position working at Merk Pharmaceutical Company until her final retirement.
In their quest for the perfect family home, Victoria and Pierce purchased property in Fanwood, N.J. and proceeded with the help of their dear neighbor and friend, the late Elwood "Snake" Green to build their home from the ground up. They would relocate from Newark to Fanwood in 1972. She later relocated from Fanwood, to Delaware in 2019.
Victoria was active in the community and became a Master Poll worker for the Department of Elections for many years. The biggest excitement of the job came when Barak Obama became the 44th President of the United States. She was also a member of Emanuel Baptist Church of Scotch Plains, N.J. Known to many of her neighbors, friends and community, including the Mayor and Chief of Police. She helped spearhead the hiring of the first black police officer in Fanwood. Victoria was always willing to help where needed. She loved to travel, taking anyone willing to go on a bus or train ride. She loved to go out to eat and enjoyed a good fish sandwich. She gave new meaning to the words "Shop till you drop".
She leaves all who loved and knew her, the remembrance of her kind words, sincere Thank you's and her warm smile.
Victoria is proceeded in death by her two brothers and two sisters; Mamie Ross Lovett, Joseph Ross, Josephine (Mumsie) Ross and Walter (Marty) Ross and leaves to cherish her loving memories, a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Victoria departed this life for eternal rest on May 27th, 2023 at Rockland Assisted Living, Wilmington, D.E. where she succumbed to dementia/alzheimer's disease.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Victoria's name to: The Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or, Delaware Hospice, 16 Polly Drummond Center, 2nd Floor Polly Drummond Shopping Center, Newark, DE 19711.
