Cornell W. Robinson-Cook, CFSP, CFSGM

Cornell Wyatt Robinson-Cook was born to college students, Cornell Wyatt Robinson and Amy Yvette Neal in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Education has always been a major part of his life. He attended St. Pius V Catholic School, Carter G. Woodson Elementary School and Darnell-Cookman Middle School (now high school) and graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School with honors in 2001. He participated in the Boy Scouts of America and was a member and 1st Tenor Section Leader of the renowned 100 Black Men of Jacksonville-Male Youth Choir. He attended Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida as a music education major. Although he loved music and singing, his passion was for the care of others through the death care industry. In 2003, Cornell began working with Brown-Green-Fralin Funeral Directors, Inc. (now J. E. Fralin & Sons Funeral & Cremation Services).

In 2005, Cornell stepped out on faith and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend mortuary school. Though there were moments stumbling and a few obstacles, he did not let it defeat him. Although there were a huge financial burden and struggle in the beginning, failure was not an option. Full of determination, in 2010 he re-entered Gupton-Jones College, and this time completely focused on finishing his dream. It was while he was a student at Gupton-Jones that he was introduced to Dr. Carol T. Williams and Mr. Carl M. Williams. After taking the advice of Dr. Williams, he showed up at the funeral home one day to work on a service and had not even been hired yet. It was on this fall day in 2010 that his Atlanta funeral service career began. He always says, “to think it all started with an invitation to go to church.” As he continued to pursue his mortuary education, he juggled being a full-time student, working at the funeral home and began volunteering with the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. In 2011, he graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service and was the first person in his class to take and pass the National Board Exam. 

Because of his dedication as a student to the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc., upon graduation, he was offered a position as Membership & Education Coordinator. After taking on that “small” task, what was supposed to be part-time quickly changed to full-time and he also took on the role as Scope Magazine Coordinator. It was during this time that his passion for helping others in every way was cultivated. Cornell worked hard at becoming a licensed funeral director and always wanted to be able to lead families through one of their most difficult times in life. In 2017, he was afforded the opportunity to become a funeral director and subsequently Operations Manager for Austin A. Layne Mortuary, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri. Though it was bittersweet, the move from Atlanta to St. Louis was a much-needed move. It was during this time that he was able to use all the knowledge he gained from several mentors and blossom as a funeral service professional. 

In 2019, it was time to come back home and serve communities he holds so dear throughout Metropolitan Atlanta. Cornell began working at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home-Fairview Chapel in Stockbridge, Georgia as a licensed funeral director. He quickly climbed the ladder, and, in the summer of 2021, he was named Location Manager for the firm. Under his leadership, the funeral home underwent much needed repairs and upkeep including remodeling lobby and visitation rooms, adding a KidsZone, upgrading the chapel and repairing the roof. 

Cornell is a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (NFDMA), the National Funeral Directors Association, Inc. (NFDA), NFDMA, Inc. 40 and Under Funeral Directors, Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association, Inc. (GFSPA), Pi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity, Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity, Inc., American Red Cross, National Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Henry County Chamber of Commerce and former member of the Missouri State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, Inc. (MSFDEA). He has served on the Stanton Heritage Foundation Board of Directors and Otis F. Smith Foundation Youth Board of Directors. 

Cornell is a life-long member of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church-Jacksonville, Florida and a founding member and ordained Deacon at Rehoboth Fellowship of Atlanta, United Church of Christ. In 2025, he joined Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Marcus D. Cosby. He is also a member of the Trey Clegg Singers, a culturally mixed chorus representing the diversity and talent of metro Atlanta. 

Cornell Wyatt Robinson-Cook is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. He also served as the Membership and Education Coordinator for the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. from 2011-2017; Chairman of the NFDMA, Inc. 40 & Under Funeral Directors; Administrative Assistant for the 100 Black Men of Funeral Service, LLC; Chairman of the Dynamic 9th District of the Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association, Inc.; Membership Committee Chairperson of the Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association, Inc. and has his CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner), COCP (Cremation Operator Certification Program) and CFSGM (Certified Funeral Service General Manager) designations. In 2024, he returned to the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. as a consultant and in May 2025 was named Meeting Planner & Convention Coordinator.

In 2025, Cornell received the Bachelor of Science degree from DeVry University with a concentration in Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship.

In his spare time, Cornell loves traveling with his husband, E. Maurice Robinson-Cook; being with his mother, Amy N. Robinson and brother, Toderick B. Hartzog.