Annie Mae Ward Cooper

Annie Mae Ward Cooper, 87, entered into rest on Monday, July 11, 2011 in Russellville, AR. Ms. Cooper was born in October 1923 in Macon, Brunswick County, NC, the fifth of eleven children to Lindsey Earl and Annie Catherine Westbrook Ward. She moved with the family later to Hope Mills, then eventually Wilmington. She worked in retail, at a dime store, where she met her first husband, Paul Brock, a Marine at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville. In 1952, their first son, Andy Lindsey, was born. A second son, Michael Duane was born in 1954. Shortly after the birth of Michael Duane, the family traveled to the Long Beach, CA. They lived together approximately 8 years on the West Coast, primarily in California and Nevada. Ms. Cooper remarried after a divorce to John B. Cooper of Davis, CA where the family lived for a short time. The family then lived for four years in Wilmington, before returning to California. After John Cooper's death in 1990, she moved with her son Michael Duane Cooper to Russellville AR, where she lived until her death. She was an avid and talented seamstress, known for her knits and crochet pieces, as well as other crafts. She was loved for her kindness and servant nature by all of her family, especially her two sons whose life were formed by the fruit of God's work in her. Ms. Cooper was preceded in death by her husband, John B. Cooper, her parents, Lindsey Earl and Annie Catherine Westbrook Ward, her brother, Leon James Ward, her sisters, Alene Earl Skipper and Amoret Elizabeth Blanton.

She is survived by her son, Rev. Andy Lindsey Brock of Winchester, VA, Michael Duane Cooper of Russellville AR; her grandson Jason B Cooper of Reno, NV; her brothers, Graham Sidney Ward of Wilmington, NC; Charles Frances and his wife Nanny Coonce Brown Ward of Lumberton, NC; Aaron June and his wife Juanita Ward of Hardy, VA; Edward Earl and his wife Agnes Hickman Ward of Leicester, NC, Roy James and his wife Janice Boyd Ward of Rocky Point NC; her sisters, Mamie Katherine and her husband Bob Williams of Castle Hayne, NC; Patricia Faye Ward of Wilmington, NC; and all her cousins, nieces, and nephews who loved her so much.

Memorial services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service, Wilmington Chapel with Rev. Andy L. Brock officiating. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

The staff at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Annie Mae Ward Cooper.