Obituary of Nellie Grace Cooper

Nellie Grace Cooper, the youngest of 12 children, was born to Reverend James, and Mary Elizabeth (Brown) Cooper in Sylvania, Georgia, on March 4, 1941.  After a brief illness, she went to join them in Paradise on January 23, 2019.

Nellie was educated in the public schools of Sylvania, Savannah, Ohio, and Philadelphia, and completed her education, as an adult, in Southern New Jersey.  Throughout her professional years, Nellie exemplified an excellent work ethic.  After many career changes, she retired from the Vineland Developmental Center in Vineland, NJ after 33 years as a residential therapist for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A deeply spiritual and devout Catholic, Nellie was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in North America.  Nellie loved to sing hymns, and was a vocalist on the St. Rosa Lima’s Catholic Church choir in Philadelphia, PA.  Nellie taught religious education at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, in Philadelphia as a teacher’s aide, during her children’s elementary school years; then later at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hammonton, NJ as a C.C.D. (Religious Educator of the Christian Doctrine).

As compassionate and avid listener, people often sought out Nellie’s advice when faced with a dilemma.  Intelligent, charismatic, and very handy, Nellie could do almost anything she set her mind to.  She was a sharp and smart dresser and had an extensive wardrobe.  She loved to read, dance, sing, garden, sew, and spend a large amount of time with her immediate and extended family.  She was also very encouraging, loved all her children and grandchildren unconditionally. She spent a great deal of her time mentoring to and fostering her love of God to her nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as her children’s friends, throughout her entire life.  She rarely missed an opportunity to be present at a birth, baptism, graduation, wedding or celebration of any kind when it came to those she loved.

Nellie loved to travel and never turned down an opportunity to visit family and friends all around the country.  She traveled to Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean Islands, just to name a few of the places she had the opportunity to visit during her lifetime.  Like her mother before her, she usually had one or more of her grandchildren with her when she traveled.

Nellie’s unexpected passing has been, and will continue to be, a deep and personal loss to all who knew and loved her.  Nellie leaves her sisters Dorothy (Theodore) Thomas, Monakay (Ulysses (d)) Cook, and brother, James Jr. (Carlotta) Cooper to mourn her death and celebrate her renewed life with the Father.  She will be joining both her parents as well as those sisters and brothers who preceded her in death- Julia Scott-Coleman, Morris Brown “MB” Scott, William McKenzie “MC”  Albright, Isabella Scott, Georgia Ann Cooper, Eugene “Gene” Cooper, and Bessie Lou Cooper in Heaven.  Her legacy will continue on with her children Victoria (Luther) Nunnally, Lallabrigida (Ernest) Singleton, Titus (Milagros) Cooper, and Angela (Willie) Porter, step-children Debra Garris and Juanita Cooper, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a host of nephews, nieces, cousin, and friends.

Nellie Grace Cooper will be greatly missed for her love, wisdom, caring, and dedication to her  family and friends.  She will forever be our guiding light.