The John Griffin Cooper Family

John Griffin Cooper was born on January 22, 1867 in south Louisiana to Lawrence Martin and Emily Wooly Cooper.  He moved to Marion County, Mississippi where he met and married Mary Eliza Parnell on December 20, 1887.  Mary was born on May 20, 1866 and died on February 12, 1905, two years after the birth of their eighth child.  She is buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Fortenberry, Marion County, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Arthur Fortenberry at FindAGrave.com)

In early 1906, John married widow Louise Delilia "Lila" Cameron Gill.  Lila was born on March 7, 1882 in Mississippi and had one daughter, Vernon (abt 1902), from her previous marriage.

From Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith:

John Cooper continued to live in Mississippi until he moved his family to Sicily Island in December of 1917.  A friend and former neighbor, I. E. Bass, had moved to Sicily Island around 1914 and it was he who encouraged the Coopers to move here along with the Williamsons and the Newsomes.  The three families moved at the same time, some members driving through with wagons and others coming by train.  Mollie Cooper Salter recalled that when they checked in at the Eola Hotel in Natchez for the night, they were told by the management that no pets were allowed.  Seymour Williamson had his pet dog which he was not about to give up.  Seymour waited until the right moment to sneak his dog up the stairs to their room where he put him in bed and crawled in with him.  The management was none the wiser.

I. E. Bass had secured farmland for the three families and so the Cooper family settled down to farm for T. J. Peniston.  They lived in a house near where the Town Hall is located today.  Over the years, John Cooper farmed at various locations on the Island until age brought him to retirement.  After retiring, John and Lila moved into Sicily Island where they first rented and then decided to build their own home.  They started building but in 1938, before the home was completed, Lila Cooper died.

John Cooper lived a long and useful life.  He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Baptist Church.  Lila was a member of the Eastern Star and the Baptist Church. 

John Griffin Cooper died on November 25, 1964 and Louise Delilia "Lila" Cameron Gill Cooper died on December 27, 1938.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The following children were born to the marriage of John Griffin Cooper and Mary Eliza Parnell Cooper:

Samuel Calvin, 1889-1933 (m. Beulah Williamson, 1893-1972); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Record of death for Samuel Calvin:

Children born to the marriage of Samuel and Beulah Cooper were:

Vondell, 1915 (m. Smith)

John T., 1917-2003 (m. Mary Miles, 1915-2003); They had the following children:  Sammie K., Alton "Al", Clarence, and Shirel Lynn.  Both John and Mary are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  

Sammie Bertiel, 1918-1927; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Valorie, 1929 (m. King)

Lawrence Seaman, 1891-1976 (m. Lillie Welch)

Roy Lee, 1893-1937 (m. Mae Bass, 1899-1966); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Record of death for Roy Lee, Sr.:

Children born to the marriage of Roy Lee and Mae Bass Cooper were:

Lola Mae, 1920-2005 (m. 1. James Gates; 2. Wilburn Barlow Thompson, 1907-1985); Lola and William are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Roy Lee, Jr., 1922-1922; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

 Record of death for Roy Lee, Jr.:

 

  

Wanda, 1923-2008 (m. Lebus Martin, 1918-1988); Both are buried in the Natchez City Cemetery in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of BettyF at FindAGrave.com)

Minnie Quay, 1926-2012 (m. Raymond T. Harris, 1918-2001)

Clark Bryan, 1928-1971

Record of birth for Clark Bryan:

 Clark Bryan Cooper is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Freddie, 1930 (m. Edna, 1936); Freddie and Edna continue to live in Sicily Island and are the parents of four children:  Cheryl Jane (Mouliere), Freddie Clark "Pete", Dennis Bryan, and Betty Joan. 

Handwritten record of birth (below) shows Freddie's father's middle name as Frederick.  Census records and confirmation from family members proves Roy's middle name was Lee.

Hyman Ray, 1895-1979 (m. 1. Mary Elizabeth, 1908-1972; 2. Mattie Mae Evans Spears, 1908-2001); All three are buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

One child was born to the marriage of Hyman Ray and Mary Elizabeth Cooper.

Hyman Ray, Jr., 1925-1995 (m. Gladys Graves, 1930-2009); Hyman, Jr. and Gladys had three children:  Sherry Gayle, Burchell, and Jeannie.  After Hyman's death, Gladys married Floyd Cole.  Both Hyman and Gladys are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Lillian Edna, 1898-1989 (m. John William Lovett, 1897-1932)

Rossie F., 1900-1972 (m. Clara W, 1900-?); Rossie is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Mollie Mae, 1901-1993 (m. Richard Clark Salter, 1902-1968); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Children born to the married of Mollie Mae Cooper and Richard Clark Salter were:

Richard Clark, Jr., 1923-1925; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Shelby D., 1924-1994

Mary Louise, 1927-2001 (m. Ernest C. Vocke); Buried in Highland Memorial Gardens, Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana.

Mickey, 1933 (m. Lloyd Dennis "Boots" Thurman, 1930-1984); Boots and Mickey taught school for many years.  Mickey is retired from teaching and now resides in north Louisiana.

Luther Paul, 1903-1995 (m. Annie R.)

The following children were born to the marriage of John Griffin Cooper and Louise Delilia "Lila" Cameron Gill Cooper:

Willie Larkin, 1906-1988 (m. 1. Priscilla ?; 2. Clarice Newsom, 1920-2004); Willie and Clarice Cooper are buried in the Bonita Road Baptist Church Cemetery in Bastrop, Morehouse, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Henry Osborne at FindAGrave.com)

Johnnye, 1908-1998 (m. 1. Caly Daniel, 1903-1962; 2. Frank Biaza); Johnnye and Caly Daniel are buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Children born to the marriage of Johnnye Cooper and Caly Daniel were:

Carmel E., 1926

Annie Louise, 1928-2009 (m. Walter Ramsey Myers, Sr., 1924-2008); Annie and Ramsey had the following children:  Cecilia Ann, Walter Ramsey, Jr., John Daniel "Danny" and Johnnye Mae.  Both Annie and Ramsey are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Dorothy Tiser at FindAGrave.com)

Caly, Jr., 1930-2003; Buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Robbie, 1934

Robert Emerson "Buster", 1911-1975 (m. Sadie Oleta Newsom, 1912-2001)

Mary, 1914-? (m. Clifford Earl Smith, 1906-1966)

Lucille, 1917 (m. C. L. "Bud" Martin)

John Griffon, Jr., 1918-2002 (m. Gladys McKay, 1918-1996)

Laberta, 1922 (m. Purvis)