Obituary of Michael Levern Cook

Michael Levern Cook, 63, of Lugoff, SC, born February 17, 1961, to Jimmy L. Cook and Peggy Branham Cook Bowie, sadly passed away Saturday, March 02, 2024. He married  Margaret Jackson Cook (Margo) on October 24, 1986, and was the brother of Teresa Cook Little (George) of Camden, and Joey Cook (Ginny) of Charleston, SC. Mike has two sons; Matthew Michael Cook (Chelsea), and Mark Mackenzie Cook;  twin five-year-old granddaughters, Mila Michelle and Maylee Sara; nieces, Meredith Little Floyd (Will), and Tiffany Yeoman (Eugene); and a nephew, Corey Cook.

Mike attended Camden schools and became a proud member of the "Lunch Bunch Crew". This group of guys have remained friends through high school, college, marriages, children, and golf.  They have held a golf retreat every year, and looked forward to an imaginary trophy and bragging rights until the next year's retreat.

Mike was a proud Camden Bulldog and served in the Scarlett Regiment Band as 1st Chair Trumpet. He enjoyed playing Kershaw County Rec. baseball and football with his dad as his coach. In high school, he joined the Camden Baseball Team. Mike pitched the only perfect game in Camden High School History on April 1979 and that earned him a full baseball scholarship with the Winthrop University Eagles in Rock Hill, SC.

Mike served as a baseball coach for the Kershaw County Recreation Department from 1987 to 2010. He loved the Dixie Youth age teams and mentored many baseball pitchers, including his son Matthew. The family asks any former players of coach Cook to attend his memorial service and sign a baseball in his memory.

Mike was a member of Camden Jaycees and worked every Carolina and Colonial Cup horse race. He chaired the Christmas Stocking Fund and pitched for the Jaycees Power Tool Softball team.

Mike became a member of the Who’s Who Worldwide Platinum Edition (1992/1993) as project supervisor at Kennicott Ridgeway Gold Mine. While at Ridgeway, Mike served as shift supervisor from 1988 - 1989. On March 10, 1989, he was promoted to Mine Supervisor. While at Ridgeway, he was also promoted on March 16, 1994, to Project Manager over all gold production control. He stayed with Kennicott until it closed and then began working with Martin Marietta of NC in January 2000. He celebrated 24 years in granite work with Martin Marietta of NC this year. Throughout his years in granite, he was assistant supervisor at Kershaw Pink Quarry and helped cut Elvis Presley’s Tombstone from their pink granite. He was a plant manager at Bethune Sand and Jefferson Granite. He also served as plant manager at Edgefield Quarry in Charleston, SC. Returning to Columbia in 2019 to 2024, he became plant manager at North Columbia Quarry on Monticello Road. Mike was a member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a licensed blaster in the state of South Carolina and held his license since 1988.

While at Ridgeway Gold Mine, Mike earned the nickname "Fred Flintstone". With great pride, he carried this name with his coal black hair and loyalty to stone and the job. His assistant shift manager was a short blonde guy they called "Barney". "Fred" and "Barney" could handle every piece of quarry equipment except the dinosaur.

Mike was a master South Carolina shagger, loved all beach music, and taught many family members shagging to help keep it alive. He insisted that everyone knows a few steps, especially the pretzel. Next year the family will celebrate 25 years at their special beach with Mike's Beach Music, by remembering all of his shagging beach steps.

Mike loved collecting antique corvettes. His pride and joy were his favorite two vett's, "The Cocky 7" and his beloved "Ragtop 1", a 1972 Stingray. He could often be seen riding "Markie Mark" through town with beach music blasting and with the top back enjoying a summer day.

Mike was an avid Gamecock fan and sports fanatic. He was a season Gamecock ticket holder, and their biggest fan, wearing a Gamecock “Visor” everywhere he went daily. He enjoyed playing pool, darts, baseball, golf, and cards. His favorite card games were poker and spades. He intimidated many family members into taking a seat at his table to play. He also loved golf, and to play daily was his future dream. In the past, he was Green Hill Golf Club Champion in 2001 and again in 2005. He was Flight Champion in 2004. He was Low Gross Runner-up in 1999, and Champion in 2002. To say Mike was a sports fan is an understatement.

The "Lunch Bunch Crew" will serve as pallbearers with many thanks from Mike's family. Attending are as follows; Johnny Deal, Howard Lamar, Lach Zemp, Chad Larrabee, David Waldkirch, Joseph Williams, Marshall Reu, and Rickie Tiller.

In Michael's heart, he always considered these good friends honorary brothers and spoke of them fondly and often. To be carried in friendship is the ultimate goal of brotherhood. Thank you is not enough.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Robin at Elgin Rehab and Corena at Karesh Beechwood for their kindness and care shown to Mike during his time there. Your care will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in honor of Mike Cook and his son Mark Cook to the SC Autism Society, 806 12th Street, West Columbia, SC 29169.