Mr. J.T. Cooper, a lifelong resident of Washington and Mobile counties, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022 at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his father, Ulmer Cooper, and mother, Ruth Anita Underwood Cooper of Millry, Alabama. He is survived by his wife and sweetheart of 56 years, Janice Clydene Deakle Cooper, his daughter, Sherri LeAnne Cooper Taylor (Tim), and two grandchildren, Cassandra Annalise Taylor and Cooper Channon Taylor, all of Mobile, Alabama. J.T. is also survived by one sister, Mary Etta Cooper Mosall of Houston, Texas, one brother, Wendell Hall of Millry, Alabama, as well as several nieces, nephews, and friends in the community.
Cooper graduated from Millry High School in 1951, then served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55 before returning home. He graduated from Livingston State Teachers College (now the University of West Alabama), and began his teaching career at Southern Choctaw High School in Silas, Alabama in 1959. In his first year at Southern Choctaw, the baseball coach needed an umpire and Mr. Cooper was drafted for the occasion. After moving to Mobile in 1961, he began teaching at Mae Eanes Junior High School where he remained until his retirement in 1996. Concurrently with his teaching career, his love of umpiring baseball took hold, and he quickly became one of the most popular and respected umpires in the Mobile area. He served in the Metro-Mobile Umpires Association for 50 years until his retirement for health reasons after the 2012 season. Cooper was recognized in 2014 by the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association with their Distinguished Service Award, an honor recognized with Hall of Fame inductees. His impact to students and the game of baseball in this area was profound, and he was always humbled with accolades.
Services have been arranged as follows: Visitation at Radney Funeral Home (Dauphin Street) on Wednesday, February 9th from 5-8 pm. The Funeral will be held on Thursday, February 10th at Christ United Methodist Church at 2 pm. Traditional procession and Graveside Service to follow at Serenity Memorial Gardens in Theodore. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to support your favorite high school baseball program.
