Roy L. Cooper

Roy L. Cooper, 91, of Jonesboro, passed from this life Monday, December 12, 2011, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro, to be reunited with the love of his life, Gladys, who preceded him in death in 2007. Roy and Gladys were an example to their great number of nieces and nephews of what a joyous love affair between two married people can be. Since they were never blessed with children, their home was always a happy place for the many children in their lives to visit. Roy and Gladys farmed for many years in the Weiner and Harrisburg area and in 1959 was named Poinsett County Farm Family of the Year. They retired to Grubbs to be near family and in 2004 settled in Jonesboro. For many years they enjoyed dancing and twirling with the Crowley Ridge Cloggers. Roy was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Jonesboro and was a 33rd degree Mason in the Harrisburg Masonic Lodge. He was also a Shriner and member of Order of the Eastern Star. In addition to his wife, Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Charles P.C. and Mary Herring Cooper, two sisters: Lillie Trotter and Ollie Mulqueen, and by two brothers: Floyd Cooper and Earl Cooper. Survivors include two sisters: Ida Newman of Wynne and Mary Heiney of Woodstock, Georgia; one brother, Jimmy Cooper of Weiner; one sister-in-law: Gwen Clark of Weiner; several nephews and nieces; one godson, Jay Cooper of Harrisburg, and his special black lab, "Buddy." Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. in St. Paul United Methodist Church with Rev. Charles Sigman and Rev. Ronnie Blanks officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery in Weiner. Active pallbearers include Justin Mason, Jay Cooper, Darrin Block, Pete Moery, Larry Griffin, and Larry Joe Cooper. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, 6-8 p.m., at Emerson Funeral Home. For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the charity of the donor's choice. Online registry at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.