Billy Dean Cook

Billy Dean Cook

Born May 15, 1929 - Died August 9, 2025

Billy was a lifelong resident of Attala County, Mississippi. He spent the last 5 years with his niece, Judy, in Southaven, Mississippi.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, John David Cook and Ida Grice Cook, his siblings, W.J. Cook, Edith Maxine Newsom, Dorothy Ann Kaye, Vivian Estelle Hodges, and Bobbie Dale Bailey, nephews, Jackie DeWitt Hodges Jr., and David Lynn Newsom.

He leaves behind his nieces, Judy Hagan and Vickie Toole, nephews, Bill Groen of California, Randy and Ricky Bailey, Kenny Newsom, Billy Hodges, and Dale Corder.

He leaves behind numerous great-nieces and nephews.

Billy started working the farm at the age of 7 or 8 years old and later in life, still on the same farm, began raising cattle. He also worked at Superior Coach building school buses. While with the company, he and 4 of his co-workers, who were all full-time employees, began appearing at various events as “The Pathfinder Pioneers”. He also worked for Attala County, Beat 2 from 1979 – 2000. All this time, he still worked his farm and cattle.

Billy was an old-time fiddler. He learned to play the fiddle while he was bedridden from acute appendicitis when he was 16 years old.

In 1971, Billy played alongside Homer Grice, Earl Reynolds, Harlan Reynolds, and Ralph Townsend at the annual Natchez Trace Festival in Kosciusko.

In 1975 and 1977, a music teacher from French Camp Academy organized a couple of festivals to raise funds for his music classes, and Billy was one of the participants.

In 1986, Billy and Homer Grice, his uncle, Grover O’Briant, James Ward, and Bill Womble played for a July 4th celebration at the lodge at Liberty Chapel in Kosciusko.

Billy was a good friend in those days to Grover O’Briant, Jerry O’Briant, Bill Womble, Homer Grice, who was his uncle, James Ward, and many others. Billy loved to play that fiddle.

Billy was mentioned in the book by Harry Bollick & Tony Russell, “Fiddle Tunes from Mississippi”, which was published in 2001.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Chapel Hill Church. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 12:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Church with burial at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Rev. Eugene Morris, Rev. Don Holder, and Rev. Doyle Mitchell will officiate the services.