Meet Brittany Cook of University of West Georgia in Newnan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Cook.

Brittany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a small East Texas city, Texarkana with my mom, dad, and six siblings. I saw how hard my parents worked to provide and make a good life for me, my brothers and sisters, me being the youngest life was great, holidays and vacations were full of adventure. I feel like life outside of childhood really began when my parents moved my sisters and I from Texarkana to the city of Dallas.

I was 14 years old and had to adjust to a new city, High School and discover who Brittany wanted to be because I knew it wasn’t what anyone in my family were, I wanted more. I joined the drill/dance team, discovered my love for dance, new friends and my passion for social interactions. I was always a bit timid growing up but being the new freshman at a new High School forced me to put myself out there, meet new people and I don’t ever regret it. After High School, I attended a junior college in Corinth, Texas because it was affordable and to be honest, I knew nothing about college. Being a first generation College student, not knowing what major or career I wanted to pursue and not having a college saving to pay for it, I thought junior college was best. I spent one year there attending school part-time and working, but I wanted more from my college experience so I transferred to Texas Woman’s University in Denton.

Once I enrolled into TWU, worked to make enough money to live in an off-campus apartment, I set off to discover once again who I was supposed to be. I started to meet new friends and was exposed to the larger college campus life I was seeking at the junior college. Although I flourished socially, academically I was suffering not because I wasn’t capable of doing the work, I just had no passion or morale for the work. After changing my major more than three times, working as a waitress and having a network of friends, I discovered a new passion. A passion to listen, work through and support people through the challenges of life. I settled in as a Family and Consumer Science major at TWU and finally thought I was headed in the right direction, even if that meant being a social worker or teacher.

In 2007, I experienced an awful breakup with not only a boyfriend, but some of my closest friends started to betray me. The social life that defined the new Brittany was shattered, I isolated myself and remained distant from the so-called friends, except for one. That friend and I later in 2008 traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to experience the wonderful art, food, music, and history of the city. In the midst of our sightseeing downtown Atlanta, we dined at Thumbs Up, a small cafe that only accepts cash in the city. While enjoying spuds and conversation, I lock eyes with a handsome guy sitting at the high boy eating alone. He ends up walking over to introduce himself as Tamarkus Cook and ask which one of us could take care of his ticket. I simply laughed and told him we needed someone to take care of ours because we didn’t have cash.

We both laughed and he proceeded to ask if we were from the area and if he and his Morehouse brother could take us out on the town that night. My friend and I both smiled and said it was possible, so he put his number in my cellphone. When he left, my friend and I decided I wouldn’t call but rather we’d enjoy the city on our own. Later that day, we visited the World of Coca Cola with our City Pass when it was time for the 4D short film, I sat down and my phone started dialing a number from my back pocket….it was Tamarkus. I quickly hung it up hoping my number didn’t pop up on his phone… it did. He called right back and said he was just talking to his friends about us and would still love to take us out in the city. I apologized for dialing him accidentally and told him we were in the middle of something but would give him a call back if we decided to go. Long story longer, we went out that night to a place called Harlem Bar on Edgewood in downtown Atlanta and had an amazing time! So much that this guy whom I just met that day told his friend that he was going to marry me. Needless to say, Tamarkus and I did get married after three years of dating and have now been married almost eight years.

When I wasn’t on a plane to visit Tamarkus in Atlanta and eventually Minneapolis where he worked after College, I was in Texas trying to determine what career path I would take. I felt I was living a life that shadowed Tamarkus’s, a life designed to fit into his. As a waitress for a few years, it finally hit me as I listened to a usual customer rave on and on about his divorce and what he was going through he said to me…“You know you’re really easy to talk to. Thank you.” That was it, I want to be a counselor! People often told me “I don’t know how you listen to all these sad stories and not feel drained” I always enjoyed listening, learning and seeing things from different perspectives but I LOVED the burden that was lifted from others just by me listening to them. I also realized that only then could you talk and try to help people through whatever they’re going through, you must first listen!

My dream and plans of becoming a counselor were bought to a halt December 2009, I discovered I was pregnant and we had our son Tamarkus Jr. in August 2010. Although it was the highlight of my year, when reality sat in, I felt defeated and even depressed at times and knew life as I knew it was over. Like I was stuck once again being the stereotype, baby mama who would have to rely on others to provide and determine the rest of my life. So instead of me being the first generation college student turned graduate, I was going to be just like my mom, sister, and many young black women before me whom I said I wouldn’t be. I took a semester off at TWU and instead spent nearly four months in Georgia with Tamarkus and our new baby boy. Spring 2011 came, I enrolled back at TWU, returned to Texas and landed a part-time job at a local Toyota dealership as a receptionist. I thought for a second, everything may just work out.

As the semester started, the challenges of childcare did as well. While balancing work, school, and parenting on my own, I accepted that this was going to be life until I could earn my Bachelor’s degree and do better for my son. Although since leaving Georgia, Tamarkus had expressed his desire for the baby and I to move to Georgia, I just couldn’t bring myself to “play house” or to pick up our lives and move on a hope and dream of a family, I needed a commitment from him. Well in only the Tamarkus Cook fashion about three weeks of me being back in Texas was it, he told me he wanted his family, wanted us back in Georgia and that him and I were going to get married and have our family (this was his proposal)…I said, “Okay”(this was my yes). Not knowing if things would work out, I took that leap of faith and returned to Georgia to build a family, home, and life with the love of my life Tamarkus T. Cook.

Since our marriage in August 2011 in the Pastor’s study one Sunday morning after church, A LOT has happened. Tamarkus was serving as youth pastor at the time and working with a local funeral home where he worked for more than ten years. I transferred to the University of West Georgia after considering other colleges from Clark Atlanta to Georgia State. The commute wasn’t bad from Newnan where we lived and the campus culture seemed really quaint, pleasant and filled with opportunity. We lived in a one bedroom loft in downtown Newnan with our son. I worked part-time as a substitute teacher while I completed my degree at UWG. Things started to come together for us, we had challenges but we had each other and we were happy. In January 2012 we were called to serve as Senior Pastor and First Lady of a 600+ congregation, Saint Smyrna Baptist Church in Newnan. Although we were equipped, prepared and honored to serve, we were afraid of the unknown and the huge responsibility the Lord was trusting us with. My husband and I immediately visited with one of the older, seasoned and most respected pastors in the area after we received the call and I’ve never seen my husband so vulnerable. (One thing I love about him) We knew after hours of asking questions, talking and praying that this assignment was ordained by God and we accepted and moved forward in serving. Since then our lives have flourished into what God created them to be. Tamarkus and I have three beautiful children Tamarkus Jr, Theodore, and Ivery and bought our first home in Newnan where we currently reside. Most recently purchased a funeral home, Cook Brothers Funeral Directors and Cremations LLC in Fairburn Georgia, scheduled to open Summer 2019.

I completed my Bachelor of Science degree at UWG in 2014, a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Community Development in 2018 and I’m looking forward to applying to the MEd program for Professional Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling later this year at UWG. I currently work at the UWG Newnan campus as the Enrollment Specialist and I also assist with Student Life on the campus for almost three years. Having direct access to students allows me to live out my purpose through my work which is so fulfilling. I was named one of UWG’s 30 under 30 Thriving professionals in 2016, Best of the West for values and continue to build community partnerships on behalf of the institution. I became a member of the phenomenal Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and further serve the community through this organization. I’ve participated in various community developments and programs to help improve, engage and promote social change in my community. In addition, I’ve served on various committees, boards, and projects to assist college students, young girls, disaster victims, and my community.

Recently, I revisited an initial program I started at SSBC called Girl Talk. Girl Talk was designed to provide a safe environment for girls and young women to freely discuss any and everything they were curious and concerned about or going through and how God fits in our lives. I conducted a survey at the end of the event and received amazing feedback from the participants that wished to continue. In the coming days, I look forward to developing a committee to oversee this program within our church to continue it and extend it into the community. I feel I’ve discovered my purpose in life, although I feel it changes as you grow but right now I am committed to encouraging others to pursue an education, to challenge the simple normalities that society has determined for them and to continuously challenge and develop themselves and unapologetically live their best life and create their own futures.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not always. Some challenges came when I had my first child while unmarried, still being a student, moving to another state that was more southern in culture. Then having my second child while still in undergrad. The expected and unexpected challenges of being a young, Christian, married woman in this current society. Marriage is difficult as is but in a society that is so self-serving, could care no less about your religion, marriage and/or family legacy you’re trying to build it’s even more challenging. Also working in Higher Education where everyone is pursuing their next degree, and me having to pace myself and prioritize my next professional achievements when it’s conducive for me and my family.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
The leaders here at UWG are clear that we are in the business of higher education, but also in the business of changing lives.That’s the heart of my work, to have such an impact on people, that they find the desire necessary to explore the wonderful world of education, challenge the world as they know it and reach their full potential. With the hope of changing their lives.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Absolutely! I first thank God for always being the source of strength, courage and comfort I’ve ever needed to move forward in life, especially during disappointments. Next my husband hands down is the real MVP, for pushing me to be great, believing in me, encouraging me grow and loving me through it all. My children also, they are my inspiration, I do all that I do for the sake of our legacy, which is for them. My parents for supporting me, believing in me and loving me first so I’d know what Love felt like. I absolutely cannot forget all the wonderful ladies who continue to sow into my life here in Georgia, Mrs Rita Parker, Jennifer Stewart and a host of other phenomenal First Ladies and friends who have mentored me and allowed me to confide in them at lonely and dark times.

Contact Info:

• Address: 80 Jackson St Newnan GA 30263
• Website: https://www.westga.edu/administration/profile.php?emp_id=91491
• Phone: (678) 839-2372
• Email: bcook@westga.edu
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bicook

Image Credit:
Family photo, UWG Vendor table at Community Business Luncheon, College graduation photo, city officials and UWG leaders attending our annual heritage Sunday service 2018, Receiving 30 under 30 award, UWG Preview Day in Newnan with prospective student and UWG Newnan & Continuing Education spreading the word about 62+ tuition free opportunities to seniors in Newnan.

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