Cook’s daughter, Marsha Gerber, said the twins were born prematurely and weren’t expected to make it. Instead, they lived 83 years together.

Cook died of a heart attack and Mitchel died from Alzheimer’s complications.

The family believes that the close timing of their deaths is not a coincidence. Gerber told KHOU that, "Helen met Clara in heaven."

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Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC