TITLE: Eulalia Gonzales SOURCE: The Post and Courier, July 17, 2001 SUBMITTED BY: The Post and Courier FORMATTED BY: Kim Grissom, July 2001 *********************************************************************************************** GONZALES, Eulalia ALAJUELA, COSTA RICA -Mrs. Eulalia Cook-Gonzales, 87, retired United Methodist missionary and founder of Alfalit International, Inc., died Saturday morning, July 14, 2001, at the home of friends in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales was an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in Cuba and a member of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Born November 7, 1913, in Little River, SC, she was the daughter of the late Emily Cox Cook and the Reverend John Edward Cook. She was a graduate of Davenport Junior College, Lenoir, NC, and Columbia College in Columbia, SC. After teaching for several years in the public schools of South Carolina, she attended Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tn., where she received an advanced degree. Later, she attended post graduate courses at Union Theological Seminary. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales began her missionary service in rural Cuba in 1940. From the outset she recognized the great obstacle of widespread illiteracy and so began an early literacy campaign. She founded and directed the Department of the Rural Church at Union Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, and was instrumental in beginning Branscomb Publications, a forerunner of Alfalit. In 1960, because of the political environmental in Cuba, it became necessary for her and others in the mission field to leave. Therefore she lived primarily in Costa Rica but worked and traveled extensively throughout Central and South America. During this time she and others established the Alfalit program, which is devoted to spreading the Christian faith through literacy, literature, basic education, nutrition and community development. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales' writing for Alfalit and other publishers included six books for new readers. Alfalit has enjoyed significant growth and now is active not only in Central and South America but also in portions of Africa, Europe and the United States. (The Post and Courier July 17,2001) Eulalia Cook-Gonzales ALAJUELA, Costa Rica - Eulalia Cook-Gonzales, 87, retired United Methodist missionary and founder of Alfalit International Inc., died Saturday, July 14, 2001, at the home of friends in Alajuela, Costa Rica. A memorial service will be held in Costa Rica. Another, as yet unscheduled, will be held at Pergamus United Methodist Church near Lake City, with burial in the Cook Cemetery. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales was born Nov. 7, 1913, in Little River, a daughter of Emily Cox Cook and the Rev. John Edward Cook. She was a graduate of Davenport Junior College, Lenoir, N.C., and Columbia College in Columbia. After teaching for several years in the public schools of South Carolina, she attended Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tenn., where she received an advanced degree. Later, she attended post-graduate courses at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, Scarritt and Candler School of Theology, Emory University. She was an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in Cuba and a member of the S.C. Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales began her missionary service in rural Cuba in 1940. She founded and directed the Department of the Rural Church at Union Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, and was instrumental in beginning Branscomb Publications, a forerunner of Alfalit. In 1960, because of the political environment in Cuba, it became necessary for her and others in the mission field to leave. She lived primarily in Costa Rica but worked and traveled extensively throughout Central and South America. During this time, she and others established the Alfalit program, which is devoted to spreading the Christian faith through literacy, literature, basic education, nutrition and community development. Following retirement from active service in the mission field, she returned to the United States where she served for 10 years as director of the founder's office of Alfalit in Miami, Fla. In 1982, she married Don Justo Gonzales, a widower. He and his first wife, Luisa, were co-founders of Alfalit. He died in 1994. In later years, Mrs. Cook-Gonzales returned to Costa Rica to live with friends. She was preceded her in death by a sister, Ovaline Cook; and two brothers, the Rev. Dr. Pierce E. Cook Sr. and John Edward Cook Jr. Surviving are two sisters, Sue Cook of Hampton and Elizabeth "Betty" Gaddy of Fork; a brother, W.A. "Al" Cook of Fripp Island; a stepson, Justo Gonzales of Atlanta and other relatives. The family suggests those who wish may make memorials to the Eulalia Fund, Alfalit International Inc., 8125 N.W. 33 St., Miami, FL 33122. Brockington Funeral Home, Lake City, is in charge. (The Beaufort Gazette July 17,2001) GONZALES, Eulalia ALAJUELA, COSTA RICA -Mrs. Eulalia Cook-Gonzales, 87, retired United Methodist missionary and founder of Alfalit International, Inc., died Saturday morning, July 14, 2001, at the home of friends in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales was an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in Cuba and a member of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Born November 7, 1913, in Little River, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Emily Cox Cook and the Reverend John Edward Cook. She was a graduate of Davenport Junior College, Lenoir, NC, and Columbia College in Columbia, S.C. After teaching for several years in the public schools of South Carolina, she attended Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tn., where she received an advanced degree. Later, she attended post graduate courses at Union Theological Seminary. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales began her missionary service in rural Cuba in 1940. From the outset she recognized the great obstacle of widespread illiteracy and so began an early literacy campaign. She founded and directed the Department of the Rural Church at Union Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, and was instrumental in beginning Branscomb Publications, a forerunner of Alfalit. In 1960, because of the political environmental in Cuba, it became necessary for her and others in the mission field to leave. Therefore she lived primarily in Costa Rica but worked and traveled extensively throughout Central and South America. During this time she and others established the Alfalit program, which is devoted to spreading the Christian faith through literacy, literature, basic education, nutrition and community development. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales' writing for Alfalit and other publishers included six books for new readers. Alfalit has enjoyed significant growth and now is active not only in Central and South America but also in portions of Africa, Europe and the United States. Following her retirement from active service in the mission field, she returned to the United States where she served for ten years as director of the founder's office of Alfalit, which had earlier moved its headquarters to Miami, Fla. In 1982, she married Don Justo Gonzales, a widower. He and his first wife, Luisa, had been co-founders of Alfalit and had also left Cuba in the early 1960's. He died in 1994. In later years, because of declining health, Mrs. Cook-Gonzales chose to return to Costa Rica to live with friends. Surviving are, two sisters, Sue Cook of Hampton and Elizabeth "Betty" Gaddy (R.R., Jr.) of Fork; a brother, W.A. "Al" Cook of Fripp Island; a step-son, Justo Gonzales of Atlanta; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her death were a sister, Ovaline Cook and two brothers, the Reverend Dr. Pierce E. Cook, Sr., and John Edward Cook, Jr. A memorial service will be held in Costa Rica. Another, as yet unscheduled, will be held at Pergamus United Methodist Church near Lake City, S.C., with interment in the Cook Cemetery. The family suggests that those who wish may make memorials to the Eulalia Fund, Alfalit International, Inc., 8125 NW 33 St., Miami, Fla. 33122. BROCKINGTON FUNERAL HOME, LAKE CITY, is in charge. (The Post and Courier July 18, 2001) GONZALES, Eulalia LAKE CITY - Memorial service for Mrs. Eulalia Cook-Gonzales will be 3 p.m., Sunday, July 22, 2001, in the Pergamus United Methodist Church near Lake City, with burial nearby in the Cook Cemetery. Mrs. Cook-Gonzales died Saturday morning, July 14, 2001, at Alajuela, Costa Rica. (The Post and Courier July 20, 2001) *********************************************************************************************** NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commerical individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. *********************************************************************************************** The USGenWeb project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.