Annie Mae Robertson Cooley of Homewood, AL, age 94, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 12, 2020. She was born on February 13, 1926 in Tupelo, MS. She is the daughter of the late Paul Armstrong Robertson and Annie Mae Bowen. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Dr. Harold N. Cooley, Sr., her son, Dr. Harold N. Cooley, Jr., her daughter, Carolyn Mae Cooley, her sister, Helen Robertson Aycock (Ray), her brothers, Tom (Jeffie) Robertson and Paul (Bea) Robertson, Jr., and her great grandsons, Cayden Atchison and Travis Qualls. She is survived by her children Anita (Walt) Israel, Dr. Joyce Levey, Elizabeth (Scott) Qualls and her daughter-in-law Roxanne Cooley. Mae has 15 grandchildren: Noah Bowman, Jr., Michael (Keisha) Israel, Jessica Mae Israel, Dylan Levey, Helen Levey Bernie (Aaron), Jordan (Sarah) Levey, Christina Cooley Kentros (Jonny), Michelle Cooley, Harold Cooley, III, Jason (Brooke) Qualls, Kevin (Jodi) Qualls, Karen (Stephen) Atchison, Jenny (Clint) Eason, Laura (Jacob) Whitehead, and Caleb Qualls.
Mae has 15 great-grandchildren: Noah Bowman III, Amilia Walker, Zoe Israel, Corrin Israel, Major Israel, Harrison Bernie, Hayden Bernie, Jonathan Kentros III, Killion Qualls, Preston Qualls, Kensley Qualls, Liam Atchison, Luke Atchison, Nathan Atchison, and Finley Whitehead.
Mae graduated from Tupelo High School where she was a head drum majorette. She was a photographer’s model, played a saxophone and piano and sang soprano in the school plays, both here and at Hinds Junior College. Mae attended nursing school at the University of Texas in Galveston. She worked as a nurse while studying to become a nurse anesthetist in Birmingham, AL. Mae was very active in the Homewood Community and was a strong civic leader. She was a big supporter of the police and fire departments. Mae was a member of the Citizen’s Police Academy for many years and served as president at one time. She received the Citizen of the Year award by the Homewood Police Department. She was a licensed realtor and owned and operated Cooley’s Mart.
Mae was very involved in her children’s lives. She never missed a ball game or recital. She kept score for the boy’s basketball teams at Shades Valley High School and Homewood High School for years. Mae would transport cheerleaders to away games. She ran the concession stand at the ballpark where her son played ball. To this day people from high school still ask “How’s Mae?” She organized parades on the 4th of July for the neighborhood kids and also held holiday bonfires. She loved dressing up like a witch and make hot chocolate in a black cauldron on Halloween. She was a 1st grade room mom and Brownie troop leader. Mae had great cake making and photography skills which impressed all. She always used these skills for all her grandkids and great-grandkids birthday parties. She even made a 7 foot long dinosaur cake for the grand opening of the Red Mountain Museum. Mae could fix cars, scuba dive, and operate ham radio. She would take all her kids to the beach, crabbing and fishing.
Mae was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she attended the Friendship Class. She was a good Christian woman who was generous to all. She babysat a special needs child while their father worked in night court. She gave money to many that needed it. She bought food for homeless members of the community. Mae was witty and had a personality that was larger than life. She never met a stranger. Many beautiful memories will be kept in our hearts and minds and she will always be with us.
A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 10:00am-11:00am in the chapel of Ridout's Elmwood Chapel located at 800 Dennison Ave. SW. Birmingham, AL. with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 11:00am. Burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Dr. Harold Cooley Scholarship fund at uab.edu/give/cooleyscholarship.
DONATIONS
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18