Mandel Cook was born in Dunlap, Tennessee in 1983 to Lois and Ted Cook. He is a graduate of Hiwassee College.
While attending Hiwassee he met his now wife Rachel. Rachel is the great-great-grand daughter of Major Luther Meade Blackman. Mandel also met Professor Lowell Kirk when they performed in a play together at Hiwassee. Professor Kirk was the first to make the connection between the Bat Creek Stone and Major Blackman.