Dorothy Lee Cooks, the daughter of Arthur and Jessie Lee Ervin Cooks, was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie County in 1948. Dorothy has eleven siblings. She is a graduate of Macomb High School.
She worked as an accounts information clerk with American National Bank and also served as the Deputy County Clerk of Pottawatomie County. She is a member of the Shawnee Jaycees and received the Governor #335 Award, the highest award given by the Oklahoma Jaycees.
Dorothy is a member of St. John's Baptist Church in Brooksville; member of Shawnee Fresh Fire Outreach; Board of Directors, Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Dunbar Heights Community Group. She is also a member of the Court Calanthe and the Court of Cawlante. She volunteers for the Shawnee Community Center; St. Gregory's University 5K Run; International Finals Rodeo; Operation Christmas, which prepares Christmas Bags for the elderly and handicapped. For four years, from 2002 to 2006, Dorothy has served as the coordinator of Shawnee's Juneteenth Celebration.
