Reverend Dr. Joel Aubrey Cooper

The REVEREND DR. JOEL AUBREY COOPER, 96, died on April 17, 2015 at Parkway Village Health Center in Little Rock, Ark. He was born Dec. 26, 1918 in Paragould, Atk. His beloved wife, Billie Charlene (Thacker) Cooper of Danville, Ark. preceded him in death in June 2014. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Willis Edward Cooper and Willie Mae Hensely McAden; his oldest son, Paul; and grandsons, John Denton Cooper and Wesley Christopher Cooper, as well as his sister, Nestle Wilkinson. He is survived by three sons: Rev. Wm. Christopher Cooper (Kathy) of Little Rock, Ark, Dr. Marcus Cooper (Donna) of Johnson City, Tenn., and Clay Cooper (Cindi) of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; a brother, John Cooper (Patty) of Conway, Ark.; as well as six grandchildren: Emily Horton (Jimmy), Matt Cooper (Priscilla), Josh Cooper (Jessica), Charlie Cooper (Allison), Casy Brian (Matt), Andee Parks (John); and six great-grandchildren. Joel was licensed to preach in 1932 at age 14. He graduated from Hendrix College in 1940 and Duke Divinity School in 1943. As an ordained United Methodist Minister he served churches throughout the Arkansas conference. His career included church appointments in Vanndale-Cherry Valley, Tuckerman, Conway, Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Ft. Smith from 1944 until his retirement in 1984. He continued to be active in the United Methodist Church even after retirement and worked for Hendrix College in several capacities. He served as the founding pastor for two churches: Maumelle UMC in 1986 and Grace UMC in Conway in 1993. Recognitions during his 70 years of ministry were numerous. He was named The Progressive Farmer Rural Minister of the Year in 1948. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hendrix College in 1962. The North Arkansas Conference of the UM Church nominated him as their candidate for election to the Methodist episcopacy in 1976 and 1980. He was a delegate for many years to the General and World United Methodist conferences. He also held numerous Annual Conference, Jurisdictional, and General Conference positions. Joel was a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to his family with his loving wife, Bill, always by his side at home and in his ministry. He was known as a strong and loving minister to the many congregations he served for over 50 years and continued to preach until his very last years. Throughout his life, Joel was a faithful and loyal member of the United Methodist church and was always a devoted fisher of men. However, when he got the opportunity for a free afternoon, he also enjoyed being on the lake catching fish. In retirement he was an avid woodworker, writer, and poet. After he retired, he always smiled when he handed someone his calling card. On the bottom he had added in bright red ink: WILL PREACH FOR FOOD, and many congregations throughout Arkansas did indeed take him up on it. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Bill and Joel Cooper Duke Divinity School Scholarship Endowment through the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, 5300 Evergreen Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205-1814. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 23, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Ark. Arrangements provided by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211, (501)224-8300. You may sign his online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.