Elder Gene R. Cook was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from George Washington Carver High School. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served for six years. Following his military service, he attended Atlanta Metropolitan College for two years, studying Social Services, and went on to spend seventeen years as a chef with the Canteen Company.
It was at the Canteen Company that he met Annie Little, who worked in the business department at Sears. She invited him to a Thursday evening prayer service at the St. Katherine's Prayer Band — a year later, they were married. Thirty years and counting, Gene and Annie Cook are the proud parents of five children — Melody, Shuntera, Derrick, Deion, and Gabrail — a daughter-in-law, Melissa, and thirteen grandchildren.
Elder Cook joined the St. Katherine's Prayer Band and served faithfully as it grew into St. Katherine's Church of God in Christ. He was called to preach under the pastoral leadership of Overseer Katherine Griffey, studying under her in an advanced Bible study class for seven years and completing two years at Beulah Bible College.
The Lord laid it on Overseer Griffey's heart to ordain and license Elder Cook for ministry. Elder Cook has now called St. Katherine's home for more than three decades, currently serving as Pastor of the church, where he oversees the Outreach Ministry at Briarwood Nursing Home among his other duties. He is employed by the Department of Children's Services as a Security Supervisor, overseeing three DCS buildings in the Decatur area — and gives thanks to the Lord for both his family and his church family.