Lafayette Anderson Cook was born in South Carolina on this day in 1916. He came to Winston-Salem as a child with his family.
Cook graduated from Winston-Salem State College in 1937, and was president of his class for four years. He played varsity tennis and basketball. He received his master’s degree from New York University, and had done work toward a doctorate.
After graduation, Lafayette taught school in Warren County, then he moved to Winston-Salem the following year. He was a teacher and assistant principal at Kimberley Park Elementary School from 1949-1951, and then he was named the first and only principal of Carver Crest Elementary School in 1951.
Lafayette had many interests and was associated with several professional and social organizations. He assisted in the organization of the Winston-Salem State Alumni Association and served as president. He had been a disc jockey at WTOB at one time, known as “Cookie.” He was a golfer and played at Winston Lake where he served as president of the golfers association.
At the time of his death in 1968, Cook was principal of Carver Crest Elementary School and president of the Elementary Principals’ Association.
Carver Crest was renamed Cook Elementary School in his honor. The photo shown above was taken in 1970.
Photos courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
