JACQUELYN COCKE passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 30, 2010 at the age of 84 in Houston, Texas. She is survived by her twin sister, Marian Toups; two nieces, Elizabeth Toups & Maria Landry; a nephew, Don Toups; and many loving family members, friends, & former students.

Jackie was born in Wichita Falls, TX & was raised in Lubbock, TX & Natchitoches, LA. She received a B.A. in Music from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and an M.A. in Music from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Jackie lived for the past 50 years in Houston. She taught choral music at Spring Woods High School then served as Director of Music Education at Spring Branch Independent School District. Jackie created and directed the Safari Singers, a student choral group that performed in Houston, Louisiana, Austria and Hungary. The group held a reunion in 2004, celebrating Jackie & the impact she had on their lives.Jackie's passion for music & education was further evidenced by her service as choir director at Fair Haven United Methodist Church; student teacher supervisor at Sam Houston State University; and volunteer with Young Audiences and Literacy Advance of Houston.

Those who knew Jackie describe the important influence she had on their lives, both professionally and personally. We will miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held for Jackie at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5501 South Main Street, Houston, on Sunday, June 6th at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Jacquelyn Cocke Scholarship Fund at the Texas Choral Directors Association (www.ensemble.org/tcda).