Rev. Henry C. Cook Jr., 85, of Hiddenite, N.C., passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House in Mooresville, N.C.

Rev. Cook was born November 14, 1939, in Burke County, N.C., to H. C. and Lois Gwaltney Cook. He was raised in Hiddenite and graduated from Hiddenite High School in 1958.

Rev. Cook married Kay Branton on November 24, 1960, and they had two sons, Mark and Stephen; and one daughter, Allison. He and Kay also have four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Rev. Cook attended Wingate College, graduated from Fruitland Baptist Bible College and from the Baptist Hospital Pastoral School of Care in Winston-Salem.

He was was raised in Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, became saved there and dedicated his life to God’s work. He was active in the church as was his mother and father (Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Cook), his brother, Rev. Charles Cook, and his sister, Mrs. Elaine Cook Ostwalt.

Rev. Cook was licensed to preach the Gospel by First Baptist Church of Charlotte, Tennessee and ordained by Sulphur Springs Baptist Church on February 19, 1961.

He was known by the people of the church as a Shepherd Pastor who was faithful to minister to the sick and care for them in a time of sorrow and need.

He was concerned for the lost and ever ready to attempt to reach them with the Gospel Message and encouraged the church members to do the same. He was an eloquent speaker from the pulpit and had many of the traits of one of his ancestors, Rev. J. P. Gwaltney.

He was called on for funerals and spiritual counsel by current and former church members. He wrote a book of poetry entitled, “Reasons for Living,” and he received The Golden Poets Award in 1986.

Reverend Cook served the following churches:

♦ 1961-1966 – Red Bank Baptist Church in Germantown, N.C.
♦ 1966-1971 – Stony Point Baptist Church, Stony Point, N.C.
♦ 1971-1979 – Yadkin Baptist Church in Patterson, N.C.
♦ 1979-2004 – Beulah Baptist Church in Statesville, N.C.
♦ 2004 – until officially retiring from active ministry just a few years ago – Rocky Hill Baptist Church in Love Valley, N.C.

Rev. Cook traveled to Ukraine and Vietnam for mission work and to start local churches. He helped organize the Bible Teaching Program of Iredell County Schools and Care Net Counseling Center of Iredell County.

He served on the Internal Review Board of Iredell Memorial Hospital and for 25 years he served on the Board of Directors at Bethel Colony of Mercy in Lenoir, N.C. He was also instrumental in the formation of Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County.

In addition to his wife, Kay Branton Cook, Pastor Cook is survived by two sons; Mark Cook (Kim Clark) of Lenoir, N.C., and Stephen Cook of Statesville, N.C., one daughter, Allison Bolick (Toby) of Statesville, N.C.; and four grandchildren; Jonathan Cook, Jordan Cook, Meleah Cook, and Ty Bolick.

He is further survived by eight great-grandchildren, Madelyn Cook, Dawson Cook, Gwendolyn Cook, Abram Anderson, Adler Anderson, Hudson Lambert, Ansley Anderson, and Henley Lambert; and one sister, Elaine Cook Oswalt (Lathan); and two sisters-in-law, Katherine Cook and Norma Rupard.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Rev. Charles Cook.

A service to celebrate the life of Pastor Henry Cook will be conducted at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Beulah Baptist Church with Reverend Brian Burgess and Reverend Robert Garrett officiating. The family will visit with friends from 2 until 3:30 p.m. prior to the service hour. Burial will follow in the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Bethel Colony of Mercy, 1675 Bethel Colony Road, Lenoir, NC 28645, or to the Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625, and the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House, 1325 Mecklenburg Highway, Mooresville, NC 28115.

Arrangements for Rev. Henry C. Cook Jr. are in the care of Troutman Funeral Home.