Cline Gerald Cook, age 86, a native of Decatur, Miss., and a resident of Gulf Shores. passed away Sunday, March 8, 2020. Jerry attended St. Andrew by the Sea Community Church. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, and was a member of the Southern Mississippi and United States Military Academy Alumni Associations. A 1958 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served 20 years in the Army retiring as a Lt. Colonel. During his tenure, he served on many missions in Army Aviation and was qualified in flying both fixed wing and helicopters. He was a Senior Army Aviator, Ranger and paratrooper with 10 Air Medals and the Bronze Star w/OLC. His last assignment was as Professor of Military Science at the University of Southern Mississippi where he also earned his Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). After retirement, he attended Georgia State University where he obtained his Doctorate of Philosophy in Finance. Jerry then joined the faculty at Columbus State University, Columbus, Ga. He was on faculty for 20 years in the School of Business and upon retirement was designated as Professor Emeritus of Finance at Columbus State University. Preceded in death by his parents, Stewart Cline and Mary Lee Cook; daughter, Julie Ann Cook Sperber; son-in-law, Tom Sperber; sister, Judy Webber and granddaughter, Meghan Kathleen Ledford. He is survived by his wife Faye Cook of Gulf Shores; sons, Jerry “JA” Cook of Petal, Miss.; Jim Cook (Julie) of Auburn, Ala.; Chris Ledford (Theresa) of Kennesaw, Ga.; daughter, Susan Lewis (Steve) of Kennesaw, Ga.; two sisters, Carolyn Huey (Max) of Decatur, Miss.; Susie Smith (Joe) of Irving, Texas; brother-in-law, George Webber of Santa Cruz, Calif. and ten grandchildren.
A Celebration of Jerry’s Life will be held at a later date. Interment will be at a later date at United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Julie Cook Sperber Memorial Scholarship Fund, The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation, 118 College Drive, #5210, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
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