"Bubba" Cook

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a Ridgeland legend. At 63, our  “Unofficial Mayor” has passed away on  February 14, 2026. “Bubba”  left behind a community that feels a little quieter and a lot less connected without him.

Freddie Allen "Bubba" Cook, Jr was born in Hampton, SC on April 27,1962 to the late Freddie Cook and Ruth Boyles Cook.

Whether he was pedaling down Main Street or stopped at a street corner, he was impossible to miss. He didn’t just ride from point A to point B, he treated every ride like a rolling campaign, stopping to talk to everyone he crossed paths with. He never met a stranger, and to him, any ride uptown was an opportunity to catch up with friends he’d known for decades, or strangers he’d just met.

A true jack-of-all-trades, he was a local handyman and was a familiar, hardworking face at Wild Boys Processing, where his work ethic was as steady as his bike’s tires.

Ridgeland won’t be the same without the sight of him on his bike and the sound of his greeting to everyone that rode by. He served his town not with a title, but with his hands, his time, and his friendship.

He dearly loved his family and his many, many friends, and they loved him as well.

Bubba is survived by his sisters, Betty Oglesby (Richard “Peanut”), Linda Kleckley, Nieces; Lisa Adams (Daniel), Amy Mena, Nephews; Joe Nettles, Andy Sauls (Nikki), Mark Nettles, Great Niece; Alyssa Ervin and Ella Nettles.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, February 20, 2026 in Gooding Cemetery, Sandy Run Road, Crocketville, SC 29911.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of "Bubba" Cook, please visit our floral store.