Joseph Hamilton Cooper

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine… – Gospel Dream
On February 9, 1928 in Kingstree, SC a little light was born; Hamilton and Maybelle (Gaskins) Cooper named their light Joseph Hamilton Cooper, Jr. Joseph (Joe) was educated in Florence County Schools and the fields of South Carolina.  Early in his adult life, Joseph migrated to Reading, Pa with his Uncles Sam and Willie Cooper. 
Gotta make them donuts! – Joseph Cooper 
Joe met and married Annie Mae Childs at the train station in Reading, Pa in 1954.  Their loving union yielded eleven children. While faithfully raising their children, Joseph and Annie Mae involved themselves in their community and church activities, but never wavered from actively supporting all of their children’s active lives. Joe and his wife Annie Mae worked tirelessly to ensure that all ten of their children were college-educated.  Joe was a devoted father, committed and loving husband, dependable employee and faithful Man of God. 
Give me a break. – Joseph Cooper
Joe was a long time employee of Labor’s Union Local #1174, Reading, Pa., where he actively worked on a number of construction projects as well as held various positions in the Union until his retirement in 1993. As a faithful employee and Man of God, Joe – Deacon, committed to Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in the early 1950s. Every Sunday, Deacon, Annie Mae and all ten of the Cooper children would fill the pews at Mt. Zion. “You gotta trust in the Lord,” is what Deacon would say and all the Coopers would do just that. Deacon was loyal member of Mt. Zion serving as the chairman of the Deacon Board, and lovingly committed to church family/friends and church. 
Man must go! – Joseph Cooper 
Our father was more than these few things: a patient, kind, loving, humble provider, and an incredible speed-walker. Daddy would make a thirty minute walk from the South side to Reading High in fifteen minutes.  When something was broke, our daddy would fix it; he was a handyman’s handyman and you could still find him doing repairs – mowing grass, shoveling snow, climbing up ladders, until his 80’s before being forbidden to do so by his children. Above all our daddy was a man of a few essential words, Pop-isms; his notorious sayings are carefully recorded on this obituary and in all of our lives. 
One of these mornings won't be very long
You will look for me and I’ll be gone
I'm going to a place where I’ll have nothing, nothing to do
But just walk around, walk around heaven all day – Mighty Clouds of Joy
Joseph (Joe aka Deacon aka Pop-pop) Cooper departed this life on Wednesday, November 27, 2019. He was pre-deceased by his loving wife Annie Mae Cooper, son Joey Cooper, his mother Mabelle (Gaskins) Cooper, and his siblings: Willie (Sonnyboy) Cooper, Edna (Cooper) Montgomery, and Caroline Bostic.  He leaves to cherish his loving memories with his sisters-in-law, Ernestine Childs, Maeola Ellison, and Martha Sue Beddell. Five sons, Stanley Cooper, Paul Cooper, Randolph Cooper, Don Juan Cooper and Andrew Cheyney. Eight daughters Anna (Lois) Childs, Shirley Burroughs, Janet Cooper, Leatha Butts, Starr Cooper-Fleming, Gloria Cooper, Dorisa Cooper, and Penny Templin. Three sons-in-law, Pierre Cooper, Vaughn Butts, and Gerry Fleming and three daughters-in-law Patty Cooper, Joi Franklin, and Jenefer Cooper. Thirty-seven grandchildren, forty-three great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, church family and friends. 
Our parting words and fondest memory is and will always be Man Must Go – go Joe, and rest easy with our upmost love, respect, and reverence.   
The Coopers 

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