Bessie Lea Cooper

Bessie Lea Cooper
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 22, 2020, at St. Paul M.B. Church in Silver Creek for Mrs. Bessie Lea Copper, 82, who died Sunday, February 9, 2020, at her daughter’s residence. Rev. Minister Stanley Smith officiated, with interment following in the Cooper Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Silver Creek. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bessie L. Cooper was born to the late Deacon Leroy and Bertha Lee Smith in Lawrence County. She attended Cherry Hill School in New Hebron. She was a co-founder of Great Mt. Rest M.B. Church in Gulfport, where she served as a missionary, deaconess, choir member, served on pastor’s aide and helped with the food ministry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny C. Cooper; sister, Lou Williams; brother, Rev. Kenneth Smith, and grandson, Brad Preston.
She is survived by eight children, Laura Smith of New Hebron, Milton (Carolyn) Cooper of Gulfport, Edward (Brenda) Cooper of New Hebron, James Cooper of Atlanta, Georgia, Frank (Jackie) Cooper of Gulfport, Kathleen (Carnell-Rodie) Jackson of Wiggins, Carolyn Cooper of Columbus and Beverly (Mitchell) Jefferson of Gulfport; six sisters, Geneva Walker, Irene Smith, LueGussie (James) May, Lela Smith, Christine Smith and Jonita Smith; four brothers, Lynell (DeLois) Smith, Troy Smith, James Smith and Terry L. Smith; 24 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.