Obituary

Pamela Elaine Cook Forrest

April 9, 1956 - December 10, 2023

Pamela Elaine Cook Forrest, a resident of Kentwood, LA, passed away on Sunday, December 10th, 2023 at Richard Murphy Hospice House in Hammond, LA. She was born April 9, 1956 in Tylertown, MS and was 67 years of age.  

Pam was a co-owner with her husband Craig and his sister Kathy Dale of Forrest Hill Dairy for 34 years from 1984 to until 2018. While living the life of a dairy farmer’s wife, she also worked for the United States Postal Service for 30 years. In her high school years, she played basketball for Mt. Hermon High School and was a four-time All-District standout and a two-time All-State performer who led Mt. Hermon to the 1974 Class C title. She was the team’s MVP for three straight years, an all-district MVP for two years, and the state’s Class C MVP in 1974. She had the highest free-throw percentage, most steals and most rebounds for Mt. Hermon and was the leading scorer in school history. She participated in the first LHSAA Girls’ Basketball All-Star Game and was named the first Miss Basketball in Louisiana in 1974. She was inducted into the LHSAA Hall of Fame in 2007. She was the first woman to receive an athletic scholarship to LSU, where she played for one semester. She then followed her high school coach by transferring to Southeastern Louisiana University where she helped them win an AIAW Division II national championship. Pam was selected as LAIAW MVP three years in a row, was a college All-American two years in a row and played in the first All-America game for women. She was inducted into the SLU Hall of Fame in 1998, and her jersey hangs in the SLU University Center. She became the third women’s basketball player in SLU history to have her jersey retired (2012). In the first ever women’s professional basketball draft, Pam was picked by the Milwaukee Does, but requested to be traded to the New Orleans Jazz. Pam was also an active member of the Positive Role Models Involved in the Development of Excellence dedicated to the SLU Women’s Basketball Team for 15 years. Other passions included annual trips with Craig and friends to the Tennessee Smoky Mountains and attending the Women’s College Final Four tournaments every year. Pam loved her family dearly and enjoyed following her son and daughter throughout their athletic careers and filming every ball game they played.  She adored and spoiled her four grandchildren. 

She is survived by her son, Trent Forrest and wife, Macy; daughter, Traci Forrest Jennings and husband, Ryan; grandchildren, Connor and Kale Forrest and Parker and Peyton Jennings; mother, Elaine Cook; sister, Tam Brooks and husband Luke; brother, Brad Cook and wife Leslie; brother, Randy Cook and wife Dawn; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman “Craig” Forrest; father, W.C. Cook; and sister-in-law, Kathy Dale Forrest. 

There will be a celebration of life for family and friends on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Spring Creek Baptist Church from 9:00 AM until religious services at 12:00 PM. Services will be conducted by Dr. Danny Smith and interment will follow at Spring Creek Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Chuck Wilkes, Al Branch, Jr., Kenneth Ray Gill, Robin Burch, Mitch Small, and JoJo Norris. 

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Neurological Medical Rehabilitation Center in Baton Rouge, the Richard Murphy Hospice House in Hammond, and McKneely Funeral Home of Amite and Kentwood.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Richard Murphy Hospice House (www.richardmurphyhospice.com) or the SLU Lady Lions PRIDE program, (SLU Women’s Basketball PRIDE, SLU Box 10309, Hammond, LA 70402).