Ellen Haas Cooper

A visitation for Ellen will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2022, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine St, Columbia, South Carolina 29205, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 PM.

Ms. Cooper was born August 31, 1937, in Montgomery, Alabama. She graduated from Murphy High School (Mobile) in 1956 and from the University of Alabama in 1960 with a degree in education, she was also a member of the Pi Beta Phi chapter. Later she would earn her Masters in Education from the University of South Carolina.

She began her teaching career in 1960 in Alabama, moved to Columbia, South Carolina in 1963 and began her career with Richland County School District One (RCSD 1) that would last until her retirement in 2001. Ellen held a variety of positions while at RCSD 1 including teacher, Career Coordinator of Education, Principal and Director of Education Association (5 years) and on the Board of Directors (3 years) as well as the Delegate Assembly (10 years) of the South Carolina Education Association. She also belonged to the S C Association of School Administrators, Richland One Parents Advisory Committee and Board of Directors for Communities in Schools. Honors during her career include, Teacher of the Year, Boss of the Year, Middle Level Principal of the Year, Volunteer of the Year (Education of Homeless Students) and was recognized by the South Carolina Board of Education for 35 years of service. During her career, she always remained a vocal advocate for students, parents and teachers, almost never missing a school board meeting. During retirement, she continued her involvement with education as a volunteer. One of her favorite volunteer activities was to dress up as the Cat in the Hat on Dr. Suess Day and head to schools to read with the students, which she did for 8 years. Fittingly, her memorial service is on the 2022 Dr. Suess Day.

In her personal life, she was a member of Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, lay reader and usher. She is a recipient of the Christian Action Award.

During her time at Virginia Wingard, she was able to continue her passion of Girl Scouting, as Ellen was involved in scouting from a young age, with her mother as her Scout leader. As Ellen had two girls, she wanted to continue the tradition, and became a Girl Scout Leader at Virginia Wingard to her girls. Ellen was awarded the inaugural Woman of Distinction Award in 1993 by the Congaree Girl Scout Council. In addition, she was recognized for 50 years of service by the Council.

Ellen was an active community leader in the City of Columbia for most of her adult life, that continued well past her retirement and into her eighties. She served as President of the League of Women Voters, Chair of the Richland County Health and Safety Council, Chair of Coalition of Downtown Neighborhoods, President Cottontown/Bellevue Neighborhood Association, Board of Directors Senior Resources, Chair Silver Haired Legislature – Midlands Caucus, Chair Regional Aging Advisory Committee, Senior Mentor Program, USC School of Medicine, City appointee to Central Midlands Council of Governments, American Association of University Women and President of Pi Beta Phi Alumni association. In addition to the previously mentioned honors, she also received the Jefferson Award for Community Service, Columbia Neighborhood Hall of Fame, Distinguished Service Award – South Carolina Association of Education – Retired, and the Brenda Williams Hellams Outstanding Alumnae Leadership Award.

As a culmination of her career of making a difference, on her 80th birthday, Ellen was given the Key to the City of Columbia and received a Proclamation celebrating her 80th birthday and the contributions to her community from Richland County.

Ellen loved reading, crossword puzzles, watching Alabama football and professional tennis. She also loved to travel, visiting 37 countries and 4 continents in her lifetime.

Ellen was predeceased by her parents, Marianne & George Haas (Mobile, AL); sister, Nancy Haas Cowles (Fairhope, AL) and sister, Beatrice Haas Walton (Lafayette, AL). Surviving her are her children, Elizabeth Cooper Parker (Matt) and Stephanie Cooper. She was blessed with five beautiful grandchildren: Taylor Maria Parker, Cassidy Nicole Parker, Seth Andrew Akers, Zachary Thomas Akers and Madison Haas Akers. Ellen is also survived by her sister Sara Haas of Phoenix, AZ, and well-loved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands, https://www.gssc-mm.org/en/donate/Donation.html or Virginia Wingard Memorial UMC, https://www.virginiawingardumc.com/give/.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.