Charles Lester (Bill) Cooper

Charles Lester (Bill) Cooper, 87, of St Simons Island, Georgia, formerly of Albany, Georgia, peacefully entered into eternal rest on November 15, 2018 at Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick, Georgia, surrounded by his family.

Mr. Cooper was born on July 6, 1931 to Idas Marcine Cooper, Sr. and Thelma Sheffield Cooper, in Early County, Georgia.  Despite his name being Charles Lester Cooper, upon seeing his new grandson for the first time, Mr. Cooper’s maternal grandfather reportedly said “He looks like a Bill to me,” and thereafter, Charles Lester Cooper was always known as Bill.

Bill was adored by all his family, friends, students and all who knew him. He was a graduate of Damascus High School and Berry College which he attended on a basketball scholarship, and was selected to appear in the 1951-52 Edition of “Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.” He received his M.A. Degree from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee (now Vanderbilt University).

Bill served his country as a cryptographer in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He was an outstanding teacher and coach in several Georgia counties, including Baker, Early and Terrell Counties. In 1965, his Terrell County baseball team won the State Championship in its classification.

After retiring from teaching and coaching, Bill worked as a Counselor for the State of Georgia’s Vocational Rehabilitation Division from which he retired in 1985.

In 1968, Bill married Faye Dasher Finney, the love of his life, along with her two daughters, Anne and Evelyn.

Bill was a faithful member of First Christian Church (now Westover Community Church) where he served several years as a Sunday School Teacher and Elder.

Bill was an able golfer and usually scored in the seventies. He enjoyed being a member of a friendship foursome that played regularly at the Dawson Country Club. Another hobby for many years was fishing and when his daughters and grandchildren came to visit, “Bill’s catfish” were always requested to be on the menu.

Bill was preceded in death by his father and mother as well as two sisters, Jimmie Cooper Lewis (Billy J), of Damascus, Georgia and Gwendolyn Cooper Milliner (Homer) of Albany.

Survivors include his beloved wife of over 50 years, Faye Dasher Cooper, two daughters, Anne Finney Dekle (Clyde) of St Simons Island and Evelyn Finney Coursey (Tony) of Tucker, Georgia. He is also survived by a much loved brother, Idas Marcine (Tyner) Cooper (Mary Jean), of Early County, Georgia. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Leigh Anne Wallace (David Straub) of Acworth, Georgia, Laura Haley Mentore (George) of Charlottesville, VA, and Allison Reeves Jolley (Jeremiah) of Mill Valley, CA, and Adina Coursey and Lenell Coursey of Tucker, GA. His three great-grandchildren are Kamina Mentore, Elka Mentore and Kyleigh Anne Straub.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Reverend Tommy Lowery at Mathews Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 20, at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am before the service.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Elders of the Westover Community Church in Albany.