(WDNews) – U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) honored the life of Ella Cook, a Mountain Brook, Alabama, native who was killed last weekend in a mass shooting at Brown University, during a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday.
“Ella was a 19-year-old female and a sophomore at Brown University. Her life was taken far too soon in a disgusting act of violence that leaves all of us searching for answers,” Tuberville said.
Cook, the daughter of Anna and Richard Cook, grew up in Mountain Brook with her two siblings, Hooker and Mary Hamner. She enjoyed playing piano, dancing, traveling, and volunteering with children through babysitting and Sunday school. Tuberville said she aspired to be a mother one day.
“She was a devout Christian…not only did her personal faith shine out like a bright Christmas star, but she loved others as real people, not as objects,” Tuberville said, quoting her obituary. He added that the reverend at her church, Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, described her as “an incredible, grounded, faithful bright light who lifted up those around her.”
At Brown University, Cook studied French and Mathematics-Economics. She also served as vice president of the College Republicans chapter at the Ivy League school. Tuberville described her as a “bold, brave, and kind heart” who spoke her truth and promoted Christian values.
“The true measure of a life is not found in its length, but in its impact. And in the stories shared and the grief that is being expressed, it is clear that Ella left a lasting imprint on the people that she touched,” Tuberville said.
The senator called the shooting “a targeted attack” and said authorities will continue pursuing justice. He concluded his remarks by praying for the Cook family and honoring Ella’s legacy of faith and patriotism.
