Mattie Lee Cooper

MATTIE LEE COOPER, daughter of the late Billie Parham and Agnes Branch, was born April 15, 1923 in Dinwiddie County, VA. Mattie was raised in Bethlehem, Pa. by the late William and Lucreasia Mercer, her aunt and uncle, following the death of her Mother Agnes. She was the oldest of five children. Mattie was educated in the Bethlehem public school system. Mattie received Christ at an early age and began her walk at St Paul's Baptist Church in Bethlehem. Mattie moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1941 where she met and married Alexander S. Cooper. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and was honorably discharged February 1946. From this union they were blessed with three daughters and three sons. Mattie worked various domestic jobs during that time including Carrollton Bank of Arbutus. In 1966 she began taking a night accounting course at Douglass High School. Upon completion she began working as an assistant bookkeeper at Baltimore Goodwill Executive Branch in the Accounts Payable dept. Mattie later became the Operational Switch Board Supervisor. She retired from Goodwill in 1988. Mattie also loved entertaining; she enjoyed family and friends gatherings at her home. Upon retiring from Goodwill she took classes in hospitality and cooking. She and two of her friends started a catering business. Mattie catered all types of affairs including wedding receptions for her own family and friends. She would also cater the Annual Thanksgiving "Feed the Homeless Dinner". Mattie was a Proud Woman with strong family commitments and values, strong willed, with a big heart. She enjoyed family reunions and sharing some history about the family with the younger members. She loved to travel, and shop; but most of all she loved the Lord and Life itself. Mattie was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Alexander, daughters Carol and Annette, sons Ronald and Alexander [r., grandson Howard Dailey, her siblings Elizabeth Lane, Fannie Bayliss, Delores Blue, brother Mack Freeman and longtime companion Raymond Smith. She leaves to mourn her death: daughter Charlette Dailey, son Charles Cooper, adopted son Herman, five grandchildren, eleven great- grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, one sister and brother- in-law Francis and Delmar Nelson, a host of nieces, great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and cousins. Before Mattie Lee Cooper departed on December 19, 2014 at 2:35 P.M. She was the oldest (youngest) living relative in her immediate and extended family. May we all be as Blessed.

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Mattie Lee Cooper

April 15, 1923 - December 14, 2014