Jewel A. Cook

Jewel Ann Cook (Seals), was born on November 20, 1956 in Byhalia, Mississippi to the late Elliot Seals Sr. and Bessie L. Jones. Her beautiful soul departed this Earth and into eternal rest on January 20, 2022 at home with her daughters by her bedside after a courageous battle with Breast Cancer.

Jewel attended Byhalia High School and graduated with the class of 1974. Unbeknownst to her, she would permanently relocate to Albany, New York in late 1974 after a two week vacation to visit her oldest brother (Eddie Jones). In 1975, she continued her schooling through the Educational Opportunity Center for keyboarding. She later began her career at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in January 1978 and retired in 2015, after completing 37 years of service.

Jewel was a devoted wife to Larry Cook, whom she married on June 23, 1979 and a loving mother to their two daughters, Breonna and Brindetta. She will be missed by everyone that knew her. 

Jewel had a wide range of talents and interests. She could often be found in her garden, cooking family dinner, shopping, or bringing her creative ideas to life in some form of home improvement project, whether it be with plywood or her sewing machine. More than anything, she loved her family and friends and relished the time that she spent with them.  She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Albany, NY where she was a member of the Gospel Choir. 

Jewel is survived by her husband, Larry; daughters, Breonna and Brindetta; goddaughter, Deonna Turner; godson, Darrell Mills; sisters, Earline Bethea of Los Angeles, CA, Louise Clark of Utica, NY, Ida Townsend of Indianapolis, IN and Gladys Reed of Red Banks, MS; brothers, Eddie F. (Ruby) Jones of Byhalia, MS, Lee A. (Sharon) Seals of Byhalia, MS and Marion (Melissa) Seals of Cohoes, NY; along with a host of nieces and nephews. Jewel was predeceased by her brothers, Joe (Claudette) Jones, Elliot (Barbette) Seals Jr., and Jessie (Beatrice) Seals, all of Byhalia, MS. 

Jewel was such a loving, creative and intellectual woman whose influence will continue to live on in the many lives she touched.

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