Cora Tyler Cooper

Obituary for Cora Tyler Cooper In the early morning hours of October 25, 2016, Cora peacefully transitioned to her Heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at the Golden Living Center in Glen Allen, Virginia after a lengthy series of illnesses. Cora was 96 years old. Cora was born in Goochland County, Virginia on November 16, 1919. Cora was preceded in death by her mother Ella Tyler Lewis, her grandmother Cora Tyler, her namesake, her sister Helen Brown, and her brothers Irvin Tyler, Samuel, Robbie, Percy, and Willie Lewis, and her sons Levi and Harold R. Cooper, Sr. Grandma Cora, as she was affectionately called, accepted Christ at an early age at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Goochland, Virginia. Later, she joined the Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, also in Goochland, Virginia . After joining in Holy matrimony to James "Jack" Alexander Cooper, she moved to Richmond, Virginia and joined the Sharon Baptist Church where she remained a faithful member until her health began to decline. From this union, four children were born: Arthur, Levi, Harold, and Ollie Mae. Grandma Cora was educated in the Goochland County Public Schools system. Grandma Cora truly loved her family and often boasted of having the "best" family. Grandma Cora's passion was in giving to make others happy, and in doing so, she received great joy in that action even if it meant she often neglected her own needs. One of her favorite sayings was, "If l can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain." Grandma Cora had a heart of gold that surpassed all measures. She truly loved her family and enjoyed family gatherings and having her large family surround her. If anyone was passing through town and needed a place to rest, Grandma Cora could always find a way to accommodate, even giving up her own to ensure that everyone felt welcomed when in her presence. Because of deep and undying love for her family, for which she will always be fondly remembered, one of Grandma Cora's final requests she made to her grandson "Junnie" and granddaughter Cheryl was to "keep the family together." Grandma Cora also loved to give to others. She believed in giving until it hurts, and that is what she always did.Whenever the family was asked to suggest an amount to give others for a birthday, wedding, birth, or anniversary gift, they often cringed because Grandma Cora would always "out-give" everyone. And she did so very quietly. While the family would often get a card for everyone to sign, Grandma Cora wanted to have her own card, and before the family could see what amount she had given, Grandma Cora would quickly seal her envelope. When her children and grandchildren would inquire about how much she was giving, Grandma Cora would say, "Now, that's grown folks' business!" In other words, she reminded her family to "mind their own business." Grandma Cora was feisty with everyone. In the midst of the storm, her granddaughter, Cheryl, her long-term caregiver seemed to have been the only one able to calm her down. Her daughter, Ollie Mae, also reminds everyone that Grandma Cora always believed that when she was right, and she knew she was right, she was not changing her mind no matter what others thought of her decisions, opinions, or actions, even when her family and friends, back in the day, would tell her that, "Wrestling (which she loved to watch) was fake." Grandma Cora, the matriarch of the family, will be sorely missed by all who met and got to know this remarkable woman of God, who lived the life she sang about in her words and actions. Grandma Cora is survived by a loving and devoted son and daughter, Arthur J. Cooper (Mattie) and Ollie Mae Charity; devoted grandsons, Dr. Willie "Junnie" Stroble, Sherwood Tony (Elise), and Wayne Levi (Christine) Stroble; devoted granddaughters, Cheryl Ann Browne, Tracy Michelle Brown (Willie), and Glennise Fleming; devoted great-grandsons, Shawn Browne (Wilhamenia) and Corey Fountain; sister, Mary L. Sharpe; brother John Lewis (Adriane); one sister-in-law, Inetta Lewis; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives, among them, extended family members: Albert Alexander, Mary Gresham and family, and Galvester and Jannie Mae Banks. God saw that Grandma Cora was tired and she could not get well, so He whispered in her ear last Tuesday morning to, "Come home, my good and faithful servant and take your well-deserved rest." The family takes comfort in knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Grandma Cora is finally at rest with all of her family members who preceded her. She is now walking around Heaven with her brand new legs, something that she wanted to be able to do when her earthly legs would no longer work for her. Rest in paradise, Grandma Cora, until we see you again. While we loved you and will miss your presence here on Earth, we take comfort in knowing that God loved you best, and he is too wise to make a mistake. We accept His will. "Weeping may endurefor a night, butjoy cometh in the morning!'' (Psalms 30:5)

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Cora Tyler Cooper

November 16, 1919 - October 25, 2016