Friends, family remember Fred Cook, community activist who passed away

Rayonna Burton-Jernigan, Evansville Courier & Press
·2 min read

Friends and family celebrated the life of community activist Fred Cook, who passed away in late November at age 74.

Cook's funeral services Monday were at Memorial Baptist Church, where he worked various jobs over the years. He also previously worked as a certified nursing assistant at Brentwood Nursing Center and the Evansville State Hospital. As a licensed cosmetologist, he ran Frederick's Palace Salon. He also briefly worked at the Earle C. Clements Job Corps.

Cook was born in Evansville in November 1948, the son of Charles McGee Sr. and Elizabeth Grizzard Cook.

Cook, who was also known as "Mr. Freddie," was one of six children, with two brothers and three sisters.

Fred Cook, shown here in a photo from June 2022, passed away earlier this month. He was a longtime community activist.
Fred Cook, shown here in a photo from June 2022, passed away earlier this month. He was a longtime community activist.

He was a well-known figure in the community who never missed an opportunity to let his voice be heard for injustices. While he was wheelchair-bound, he did not allow that to stop him from being active in his neighborhood.

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Cook was active in both the Goosetown Neighborhood Association and the Coalition of Inner-City Neighborhoods.

Sondra Matthews nominated Cook for the 2022 Celebration of Leadership Awards, for which he was honored for his work at the Coalition of Inner-City Neighborhoods.

Cook was known for hosting back-to-school rallies, toy drives and even lemonade and hot chocolate stands for projects on behalf of the coalition.

The stands, which were in front of the Dollar Tree on Lincoln Avenue, earnedhim the nickname "Lemonade Man."

"He was so intent on every kid having a toy for Christmas, or having a backpack for back to school," Matthews said.

Each year, Cook hosted "Christmas in the 'Hood", where he gave away gifts, prizes, and snacks. Sometimes he would dress up as Santa Claus so kids could take pictures with him.

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"He never made a difference between the children, no matter how much money they had or didn't have," Matthews said.

Matthews, who previously ran Our Times newspaper, the only Black-owned paper in the Tri-State, said Cook frequently wrote letters to the editor.

He leaves behind his wife, Portia Moorman Cook, and children Rickquia Millbrook and Felicia Davis-Sutton. In addition, his brothers, Michael McGee and Charles McGee Jr., sister, Margaret Ann Williams, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Fred Cook of Evansville was involved in community activism