Mary Ella Cooper

Mary Ella Byrd-Cooper was the fifth of eleven children born to Horatio E. Byrd and Julia C. Mourning-Byrd on June 24, 1944 in Dothan, Alabama.

She accepted Christ as her personal savior at a very young age and was instilled Christian morals and standards by her parents.

In 1962, she graduated from Ashford Colored High School in Dothan, AL and moved to Chicago with her sister Robbie J. Randall.

Mary met the love of her life in 1964, Nemire Cooper Jr. and they were united in matrimony on August 13, 1966. To this union one child was born, Yolunda Rena.

Mary was a stay at home mother until 1976, when her daughter started school and she became a crossing guard for her daughter and other neighborhood children. She later worked at a local convenient store owned by one of her neighbors. Mary was later encouraged to become a school bus driver by a parent from the school where her daughter attended. Mary drove for School District 88 later to becoming a supervisor before her retirement in 2006.

Mary was a member New Zion Missionary Baptist Church for over 30 years where she served diligently and was a faithfully choir member and served on several auxiliaries until her health began to fail.

Mary was always full of life, love and had a laugh the was extremely infectious. She was known as everyone’s mother or nana; she embraced most children as if she had given birth to them herself.

Rena may have been her only “birth” child, but she mothered many. She never met a stranger and helped all those who captured her heart or those she knew had a need. She truly lived the biblical principles that were instilled in her by her parents and shared with her siblings. Mary loved to cook and loved to sing. Often being request to sing at church by her current pastor.

On March 8, 2017, God laid Mary down gently to rest.

She was preceded in death by her parents Horatio and Julia Byrd; brother Charles Byrd; sister Robbie J. Randall; son Fredrick Doctor and god-daughter Rolanda LaShawn Brady.

Mary Ella leaves to cherish her memory: husband of 50 years Nemire Jr.; daughters Yolunda Rena Cooper both of Bellwood, IL and Stacia V. Doctor of Chicago, IL.; two grandchildren Marquis (Shonna) Hyles and Sydnye Symone Doctor and great-grandchild Drake Hyles ; sisters Lois Shipman of Carson, Ca, Carolyn E. Johnson Dothan, AL., Betty Brisette of Phoenix, AZ. , Elaine Maynor and Edith (Reafield) Vestor of Dothan, AL.; brothers Lawrence (Loyce) Byrd, Bobby Ray Byrd, and David (Mary) Byrd all of Dothan, AL.; sister-in-laws Delores Cooper of Phoenix, Az. and Mattie Cooper of Alexandria, LA.; aunts Ella Byrd McCain, Birmingham, AL., Clellie Mourning and Mary Lois Heirs of Fort Lauderdale, FL. and Annie Bell Webb of Pompano Beach, FL.

Best Friends for over thirty plus years Catherine Perry and Doris Brady. Girlfriends: Gennie Murray, Helen Tate, Mary Gordon, Kim Dampier and Erma Ingram. Spiritual mother Lela Bland; ‘Bonus’ children Evelyne D. Pullum (Jonathan X and Cameron), Faye Watkins, Kenqwonna Moneak and Stephen Christopher Clarke, Sheila Gordon, Rochelle Perry, Sherry Carol Bean, Cynthia Bland, Jason & Bridget Williams, and Valerie & Errol Matthews.

A host of nieces, nephew, cousins and friends. Especially the ‘old skool’ and new 1000 block of 24th Avenue.

Arrangements under the direction of Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, Chicago, IL.