"I was born into a Southern Baptist/Pentecostal family but managed to overcome it."
– Judith A. Cook

Judith A. Cook, 74, died on December 29, 2023, in her Cahokia Heights home. Born on June 7th, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, she fondly remembers her childhood in Paducah, Kentucky with her Aunt Mae and grandparents Jesse and Georgie Copeland. A trip in 2017 to her childhood hometown was of great importance to her when she was informed of her worsening health by her doctors. Along the way, a stop in Metropolis, Illinois, would find her posing next to Superman himself.

She was an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, a lover of art, a staunch supporter of women's rights, and a friend to all cats. She fell in love with Star Trek when it first appeared on her television 57 years ago and was a lifelong fan of Mr. Spock. She was interested in 18th Dynasty Egypt, religion, archaeology, human behavior, and just about anything else that caught her attention – she remained curious about the world and everything in it until her passing. Prior to her health declining, she played a significant role in the running of Archon, a local science fiction and fantasy convention, where her eye for art and her skills with sewing and costuming were put to use heavily.

She is survived by her sons, Sean (Elizabeth) Cook of Illinois and Scott (Kimberly) Cook of Hawaii; sister Brenda Langley; brother Eugene Bobo; proud grandmother of Caitlin, Jace, Cody, Addison, and Isaac; cats Baby and Puss Puss; and will be missed by many friends. She is preceded in death by her mother Minnie Laverne Byassee Copeland and other friends and family whom she loved dearly.

Memorial services will be held at Braun Funeral Home located at 265 Quarry Road, Columbia, IL 62236, on Sunday, January 14th, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 3:00 p.m.

A special thank you from her family to all those who helped her in her final years – from her kind and helpful neighbors, Erika and Jaqwon, who helped her regularly with day-to-day tasks to her lifelong and online friends to her medical providers and the pharmacists at CVS and Walgreens for providing her care in her final years. We can never thank you enough for everything you did for Judi. Your support of her will always be remembered and appreciated by her family.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Saint Louis Art Museum or the Humane Society of the United States.