Carol Jean Tesh (Cookie) Chandler, of Chocowinity, passed away Jan. 16, 2020, surrounded by her daughter and granddaughters after an extended illness.

A celebration of life will take place at Covenant Church Washington Campus, 208 E. Eighth St., Washington, on Jan. 25, 2020, at 2 p.m.

Cookie was born on Dec. 25, 1945, to the late Clinton Irving Tesh and Melba Pruett Tesh. A graduate of Mount Airy High School in 1963, Cookie played basketball and played the clarinet in her high school band. After graduation, she got a job at a local bank, thus starting her career in banking that spanned more than 45 years. She retired from Bank of America, and after the birth of her first grandchild, returned to the world of banking as a floating teller throughout eastern North Carolina, then returned to the job she loved so well, becoming a full time bank teller with First South Bank. She then retired from banking and went to work for the Town of Chocowinity as a part-time clerk. On March 17, 1968, she married Billy James Chandler.

Cookie was preceded in death by her husband, Billy James Chandler; father, Clinton Irving Tesh; and stepfather, Claude Tickle.

Cookie is survived by her mother, Melba Tesh Tickle, 98, of Mount Airy; daughter, Stephanie Fore and husband Mike, of the home; two grandchildren, Mallory Beddard Phelps and Emily Elizabeth Beddard, both of Chocowinity; and two great-grandchildren, Emma Mae Squires and Chandler Raelynn Phelps, both of Chocowinity. Also surviving are a sister, Elizabeth (Libby) Brown and husband Wayne, of Chatham, Virginia; a brother, John Clinton Tesh and wife Pat, of Lexington; two nephews, Scott Brown and John Jaysona Tesh; and three nieces, Kelly Brown Unger, Wendy Brown Reynalds and Hope Tesh.

The family would like to convey a special thank you to Covenant Prayer and Congregational Care Teams, Covenant Church Washington Campus, Scott Bircher, Bill and Janet Lennertz, Susan Todd, dear friends Bobby and Jenny Perry and family, Warren Morrisette Jr., Brenda Ledford, the staff of Chocowinity Primary School, Janie Dawson, Bonnie Riggs, John Medlin, Dixie Medlin and James Jones.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant Church.

Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Service & Crematory, Greenville. Online condolences may be expressed at www.smithfcs.com.