Robert L. Cooper Jr.

Robert L. Cooper, Jr. of Old Town, Florida passed away on September 12, 2012. He was born on July 30, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the son to Robert L. Cooper, Sr. (deceased) and Dorothy Cooper. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Elizabeth "Jane" Welch Cooper; and loving daughters, Jessica Cooper and Roberta Cooper. He is also survived by his mother, Dorothy Cooper; sister, Teena Hamilton; and brother, Terry Thompson. He was preceeded in death by his sister, Sandra Wilson. He served his country in the United States Navy. He will be missed by his loving family and ALL who knew him. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 729 South Edgewood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL.

A passage of scripture that speaks to the life of Robert and those closest to him is found in 1st Corinthians 13 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.(NKJV).

As a family we have found a poem that expresses our sorrow and gives us comfort.

When tomorrow starts without me

And I'm not there to see;

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today;

While thinking of the many things

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me

As much as I love you;

And each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name

And took me by the hand.

She said my place was ready

In heaven far above;

And that I'd have to leave behind,

All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,

A tear fell from my eye;

For all my life, I'd always thought

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,

So much yet to do;

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,

The good ones and the bad;

I thought of all the love we shared,

And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday

Just even for awhile,

I'd say goodbye and kiss you

And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized

That this could never be;

For emptiness and memories

Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things

I might miss come tomorrow;

I thought of you, and when I did,

My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates

I felt so much at home;

When God looked down and smiled at me

From His great golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity

And all I've promised you;

Today your life on earth is past,

But here it all starts anew."

"I promise no tomorrow,

But today will always last;

And since each day's the same day,

There's no longing for the past."

"But you have been so faithful,

So trusting and so true;

Though at times you did do things,

You knew you shouldn't do."

"But you have been forgiven

And now at last you're free;

So won't you take my hand

And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart

For every time you think of me,

I'm right here in your heart.

~we miss you every single day......