Carolyn Anne Cook (67) of Pomfret, Maryland, died March 3, 2023, at the Hospice of St. Mary's after a prolonged illness. Carolyn was born July 1, 1955, the first child of Hunter and Barbara Kirby, in Washington D.C. Soon thereafter, the Kirby's moved to the suburbs of New Carrolton, Maryland. Carolyn attended Parkdale High School, graduating in 1973 and continued her education at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1977, and pursued her Master's of Education Degree at George Washington University. Carolyn married her high school sweetheart, Robert Cook, in May 1977 and went on to have a career in special education at J.C. Parks Elementary School from 1979 to 1998. In 1993, Carolyn and Robert were blessed with the birth of their only child, Dale Hunter Cook. Carolyn's wise and valued counsel and her sincerity of purpose resulted in a high degree of excellence in the quality of instruction in Charles County schools. Carolyn was an avid Terps basketball fan, a ravenous consumer of romance novels and reveled in a weekend pastime of searching and shopping for antiques.

She is survived by her loving husband, Robert, of St. Inigoes and her son, Dale, of Staunton, Virginia, her four siblings, Jimmy Kirby of Davidsonville, Maryland, Fred Clodfelter of North Carolina, Crystal Payne of Gordonsville, Virginia, and Audrey Gibson of Charlottsville, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her father, Hunter Kirby and her mother, Barbara (Glass) Kirby.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday March 14, 2023 from 10 AM until service time at 12 noon at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home (211 St. Mary's Ave. LaPlata, MD 20646). Interment to follow at the Trinity Memorial Gardens (3221 Mattawoman Beantown Rd. Waldorf, MD 20601).

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to the Hospice of St. Mary's at www.hospiceofstmarys.org.