Born on a farm in Chatham, Ontario, Edith Cook moved to Detroit with her father, mother, and sister when she was only six weeks old. Five years later, they moved back to the farm until Edith was seven, when they returned to Detroit.
Edith attended the Hastings Street Mission, which became the East Side Church under the Lake Region Conference, and then the Burns Church where Edith is a charter member. Edith recalls Thomas Jimerson, a lay preacher and evangelist, who was instrumental in establishing the group of believers at the little storefront church and school.
“During the week, the storefront was a school where Violet Vandeburg was our teacher,” recalls Edith. “On Friday, we would put the desks aside and put out folding benches to make it a church for Sabbath. If there is one thing I have to say, it’s to stay in school and get an education. Don’t wait until you get into troubles like I did.”
Edith discontinued her education in the ninth grade at the Cass Technical High School to go to work, a decision she later regretted. At the age of 13, Edith was baptized at the East Michigan Conference Camp Meeting in Holly, by Arthur V. Cotton, pastor, officially making her a third generation Adventist, preceded by her mother, Amanda Cook, and her grandmother Wilmore.
She continued strong in her faith until at the age of 17 she was attracted to the dance halls of Detroit. Not wanting to be a hypocrite, she asked that her name be taken off the books at the church. It was in the dance halls that she met her husband, George Glenn. After ten years of kicking up their heels together, Edith’s conscience began to bother her with what she described as the new vulgar dances of the day. One day she announced to her husband, “I’m going back to church. Are you coming with me?” He supported her in her decision and they became faithful members.
“If you’re supposed to be a Christian, don’t go anywhere outside of the Lord’s blessing,” she advises, “because the devil will try to take advantage of the situation and seek to destroy you.” She speaks from experience. Edith's and George’s marriage produced twelve children, though they experienced the pain of losing their youngest son to death.
After only sixteen years together, George passed away, leaving Edith with 11 children to raise on her own. Today there are seven surviving children: Dorothy Keith, Pauline Smith, Esther Lowe, Pearl Glenn, Earl Glenn, Paul Glenn, and Gerald Glenn. To her best recollection, Edith has about forty-nine or more grandchildren and great-grandchildren combined.
At the age of 45, Edith studied nursing, but due to an auto accident she was unable to complete the course until September, 1952. Earlier that year, she was introduced to James Bagby, and they were married on September 12, 1955. Edith is described as quiet and reserved with a sharp mind and well educated. She retired from nursing in 1971 at the age of 65, but always felt bad about not graduating from high school.
Following the death of her husband, James, Edith decided she needed to take care of her unfinished business and enrolled in an adult education program. She completed all the necessary requirements and graduated from high school in 1982 at the tender age of 77.
Although she left the Chatham farm at the age of seven, she has always loved gardening. “There is something about working with the soil that is healing,” she says. “Maybe it’s because of our kinship with the soil. After all, we were formed from the soil of the earth."
It’s her close connection with her Creator and her love for His Word that explains her lack of interest in television. She says it’s because very few programs teach moral lessons. “My vision is not as good as it used to be and I want to save my eyesight for reading my Bible lessons and good periodicals,” she explains.
Edith attributes her longevity to clean living, plenty of rest, and “to the grace of God.” She enjoys a vegetarian diet, takes no medications except eye drops when necessary, and says, “All the honor and praise goes to God. I believe in His promise of long life to those who ‘honor and obey’ their parents.”
Her faith in God remains strong; she is active in service to others and has an ongoing quest to learn. Edith has served as head deaconess and was a Sabbath school teacher for primary, youth, and new believers classes. Each Sabbath when the church doors swing open, you will find Edith sitting and waiting patiently for Sabbath school to begin, and she remains throughout the day, continuing to learn and contribute at the age of 101!
Born during the days of Theodore Roosevelt, Edith has seen America go through many changes under the leadership of 18 presidents. To today’s generation, she advises, “Stay close to the Lord and work in His work.” She was surprised that others have taken notice of God’s blessing on her life when she was recently featured in the June 5 issue of JET magazine.
Living more than a century in anticipation of Jesus’ Second Coming, Edith wants to be ready to go home with Him to live in His presence throughout eternity. She invites everyone to commit to a life of faithfulness that they, too, might enjoy the rich blessings of God.
Ruth Kennedy is a member of the Burns Seventh-day Adventist Church in Detroit, Michigan.
