Cookie Ketchie Athanaelos

Cookie Mae Ketchie Athanaelos, 84, of Kannapolis, died Monday , December 22, 2025.

Cookie was born October 29, 1941, the daughter of the late R.L.(Bob) Ketchie and Myrtle White Ketchie Roberts (Step-father, J.B. Roberts, Jr.) In addition to her parents, Cookie was preceded in death by grandparents, Cordia Teague and Arthur C. White and Herman and Amanda Taylor Ketchie.

She had one daughter, Georgann Athanaelos Sapp and husband, Jeff of Kannapolis. And a niece, Tanya Athanaelos of Spindale.

She is also survived by stepsiblings, Jim Roberts and wife Dianne; John Roberts and wife Ruthie; Charles Roberts and former wife Linda; Mike Roberts and wife Michele; Lisa Green and husband Merrill; Bob Roberts and wife Kay; Joe Roberts and wife Martha. And numerous step-nieces and nephews. Eugene, Bost, John II, Stephen, Joshua, Sara Kate, Jacob, Jessica, Alex, Elizabeth, Luke, Benjamin, Katie, Jeb, Gracie, and Claire, and numerous step-great-nieces and nephews.

Cookie was retired from Southern Bell/Bell South with 33 years of service. She was a former member of the Kannapolis Jaycettes, chaperone for Miss Cabarrus County 1969-1972, director of the Miss Cabarrus County pageant 1972-1976, and field director of Miss North Carolina organization 1972-1976 and during this time judged numerous pageants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

She enjoyed her time volunteering with Cabarrus Hospice, especially the Hospice angel tree during its beginning in the 1990s. She loved beach music and keeping in touch with her A.L. Brown High School Class of 1960 classmates.

She loved Kannapolis and was so proud of her family and their role in Kannapolis history. She was extremely proud of her dad, Chief Bob Ketchie, and his strict but fair way of being a leader in the Kannapolis Police Department.

She will always be known for her Cookie-isms and steel trap memory of dates and events. She will be missed by many, especially those that received her birthday wishes each year. She loved celebrating others.

Special thank you to the doctors and staff of Atrium Cabarrus; Pastor John Futterer of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church for his wonderful visits; and special friends who she loved dearly Jackie Sherrill Jenkins, Sylvia Anderson, Ann Glosson, Paul Brown, and Larry Fink.

As a lifelong member and third generation member of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church she would like memorial donations be made in her memory to Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church 101 Vance Street Kannapolis, NC 28081 or the scholarship fund for Kannapolis Junior Woman’s Club / GFWC Kannapolis Woman’s Club 501C3 EIN#56-1534950, mailed to 725 Saw Road China Grove, North Carolina 28023 or sent to PayPal @kannapolisjwc1.