Freda Ann Harless

Freda Ann Cook-Harless, 71, of Oceana, WV passed away on Monday, April 20, 2015 in Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, WV.

She was born on January 27, 1944 in Hanover, WV, a daughter of the late Herman L. Cook (1920-1992) and Minnie Cline-Cook (1915-2002).

Freda was a member of the Hanover Missionary Baptist Church where she was the church pianist and choir director. She was a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International of the Alpha Theta Chapter in Wyoming County.

Freda worked as a teacher and principal for the Wyoming County Board of Education. She started her career as a teacher at Oceana Middle School and her career as a principal at Matheny Grade School. She last worked as principal at Berlin McKinney Elementary School; while under her leadership in the 2000 school year they received the WV School of Excellence Award, in 2002 they were named a National Blue Ribbon School and in 2003 Freda received the National Distinguished Principal Award.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by an infant brother Charles Herman Allen Cook (1948-1948); her maternal grandparents Mack A. Cline (1880-1937) and Mae Bailey-Cline (1892-1948) and her paternal grandparents Carl F. Cook (1902-1978) and Gustava Lester-Cook (1903-1975).

Survivors include her loving husband of 46 years Edward A. Harless, Jr.; a daughter Joyel Harless-Finley and her husband Scottie Finley of Milton; a son Parrish Harless of Charleston; a sister Sandra Cook-Gilbert of Scott Depot; and a host of other loving family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 24, 2015 in the Chapel of Stafford Family Funeral Home, Lynco, WV, with Rev. Jackie Lester officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Cline Family Cemetery, Hanover, WV. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=145402108