Billie Jo (Johnson) Cooks

Billie Jo Johnson Cooks, 89, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024. She was born in Petty, Lamar County, Texas to Dudley Combs and Ruth Patterson Johnson. At an early age, she attended school in Honey Grove, Texas, and united with the Union Hill Baptist Church. On November 14, 1948, Billie moved to Amarillo, Texas, with her parents and united with Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Reverend J. W. Wade. She was a faithful member of Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church, serving as church clerk, financial secretary, and a member of the mission department, and a member and secretary of the City-Wide Ushers. Billie also served as secretary for the Amarillo United Citizens Forum.

She attended Patten High School for two months and then moved to the new Carver High School in February 1949 and graduated in May 1953. She attended Amarillo College and graduated from The Draughon’s Business College.

Billie met and married Thomas J. Cooks, Sr., and to this union, two children were born, Thomas J. Cooks, Jr., and Lawanda G. Cooks.

She was employed with American National Insurance Company, Amarillo Independent School District (AISD), and Pantex Mason and Hanger-Silas Mason Company, Inc. (now Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS), Pantex.) She retired from Pantex in 1997, after 28 years of service.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, son, and brother, Austin Johnson.

Mrs. Cooks leaves to cherish her memory, daughter-in-law, Celeta Guest Cooks, step-granddaughter, Chiffon Goss, Godson, Roushell Hamilton, Jr., sister-in-law, Heresa Cooks of Dallas, Texas, brother-in-law, Edgar Cook, of Lewisville, Texas, cousins, Lee J. Patterson, Jr. (Shelia) and Gloria J. Smith, of DeSoto, Texas, Monica R. Sneed (George), of Dallas, Texas, Gleno Perry, and Beverly J. Kenner, of DeSoto, Texas, Tom and Lacie Ziegler of Prosper, Texas, Lee Jewel Patterson, III (Leree), of Houston, Texas, Desmond Patterson and Dawn Patterson, of DeSoto, Texas, Donivhan Powell Patterson and Chrystal Powell, of Houston, Texas, Gentry and Rosie Powell of Amarillo, Texas, and Edwina Harry, of Moreno Valley, California, special close friends, Ethel Doris Westmoreland, of Fort Worth, Texas, Frances Tanner Taylor, of San Antonio, Texas, Roushell and Tommie Hamilton, Sr., Mary Lou Mullins, the late Ollie Combs Smith, Faye Webster, and the late Joyce Williams, all of Amarillo, Texas, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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