Ernestine Vickers Cooksey

Mrs. Ernestine Vickers Cooksey passed away on June 15, 2025 at the age of 98. She was born on March 20, 1927 in Amsterdam, Georgia to her parents Harmon Wilson Vickers and Mattie Martha Collins Vickers.

Ernestine is preceded in death by her first husband, Lamar Augustus McKinnon; both of her parents, Harmon and Mattie Vickers; brothers and their spouses: Jesse Wilson Vickers (Frances), Herman Willard Vicker (Montine), William Walter Vickers (Betty), Gerald Wesley Vickers (Erma), James Wendell Vickers and Hershel Clyde Vickers; her sister, Wyelene Elizabeth Frazier (Curtis); and granddaughter, Wendy Ann Shelby Miller.  

Ernestine is survived by her husband, Leon Kenneth Cooksey; daughter Marlene McKinnon Cruze (Glen); Sons: Marshall Eugene Cooksey (Kathy) and Leslie Kenneth Cooksey (Christie); Grandchildren: Patricia Cooksey Smith (Charles), Michelle Cooksey King (Chris), Morgan Cooksey, Haydan Cooksey Brown (Brandon), Cindy Webber (Scott), and James Scott Shelby (Amy); Great-grandchildren: Autumn Smith, Cole Smith, Nolan Smith, Charlotte King, Mason King, Amalie Brown (Cray), James Shelby (Lauren), Savannah Cooksey-Murphy, Aubrie Brown, Remington Brown, Lakelyn Brown, and one on the way.

Ernestine was a licensed photographer who won many awards in photography – for years she owned Studio and Color Lab. She also worked for a newspaper in Thomasville, GA for many years as well as the theater for several years. She then worked for the Opelika Daily News for many years where her love of history led the editor to ask her to do the history of the old homes in Opelika, Auburn, and surrounding counties – several of the homes were registered in the Archives and History in Montgomery, Al.

She was a member of the BPW (Business and Professional Women’s Club), member of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the Pilot Club, member of the Opelika Garden Club, the Federation of Garden Club where she served as President, she served on the board of Meals on Wheels, received an award from Kris Douglas for her work with the Leukemia Society, and also did photographic work for three governors of Alabama.

Ernestine was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she taught in the children’s department for several years, sang in the choir for over 50 years, and was the Church Historian – where she complied many books of history for the church from the time it was beginning till current day. Once she gave up the post of Church Historian, she continued to keep a log of events and activities at her home.

She will be laid to rest in Garden Hills Cemetery in a private burial and a memorial service for family and friends will be held for her at Trintiy United Methodist Church with those dates and times to be announced.

The family requests flowers be sent to the funeral home, in honor of Mrs. Cooksey's love for gardening, or that donations be made to Trinity church.