Obituaries for Thursday, June 16

Published 4:49 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

James Charles Cooper

DEMOREST — James Charles Cooper, 73, of Demorest, formerly of Valdosta, died on Monday, June 13, 2005, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. He was the son of the late James Ellis and Mabel West Cooper of Brooks County.

Survivors are his wife Jean Cooper of Demorest; three daughters and their husbands, Debbie and Ray Poe, Kathy and James Bonner, Lisa and Bob Lee, all of Valdosta; one son and his wife, Chuck and Jennifer Cooper of Sylvester; two stepdaughters, Kimberly and Ray Robertson of Blacksburg, Va., Jennifer and David Price of Charlotte, N.C. Grandchildren are Chris and Amy Yarbrough, Jason Yarbrough, Blake Bonner, Ben Bonner, Coleman Miley, all of Valdosta; Matthew Cooper and Rebekah Cooper of Sylvester; Christian Robertson, Parker Robertson and Ashley Robertson of Blacksburg, Va. Also surviving are four sisters, Catherine Adams, Lenelle and Julian Shierling, Laura and Charlie Flythe, Carol and Billy Folsom, all of Valdosta; and two brothers, Bernard and Edna Cooper of Marietta, Wayne and Gail Cooper of Hahira. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Cathy and George Luckett of Memphis, Tenn., Judy and Pete Adams of Banks, Ark.; and one brother-in-law and his wife, Charles and Kay McEwen of Dyer, Tenn. A number of nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by a beloved brother-in-law and mentor, Carlton Adams.

Cooper, better known by many former basketball players as “Coach,” touched the lives of numerous young people throughout Georgia. During a super successful career, he coached basketball both on the high school and college levels. During the 2005 season, he was honored by the Great South Athletic Conference as the Coach of the Year after winning more than 1,000 games during a career that spanned 48 years.

After graduating from Morven High School, he earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Georgia Southern University. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

He coached at Morven High School and later moved to Brooks County High and on to Live Oak, Fla. In 1968, he moved to Lowndes High School where his girls’ basketball teams won state titles for four consecutive years. Following an outstanding stint at Lowndes High, he became women’s coach at Valdosta State University where he took his team to the NCAA Final Four.

After being retired from Valdosta State University for two years, he took the helm of the womens’ basketball program at Piedmont College in Demorest where he remained until his illness and death in 2005.

Cooper leaves a legacy of outstanding professionalism, enviable success on the court, and valuable lessons about life. He received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career with the most outstanding being the naming of the facility at Lowndes High School as The Charles Cooper Gymnasium.

Funeral services for James Charles Cooper will be on Friday, June 17, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta. He will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. Bill Cashion, senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church where Cooper was a member, will officiate. Interment will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive guests at Carson McLane Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. this evening. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



John Gordon Joiner

MACON — John Gordon Joiner, 88, died Wednesday, June 15, 2005, after a short illness. He was born Aug. 19, 1916, in Valdosta, played baseball and football at Middle Georgia College and graduated from Mercer University. He won a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service as a Captain in the Army Artillery in WWII. He attended Harvard University for Advanced Management during his career with McAfee Candy Company and Tom’s Foods where he served as plant manager in Macon until his retirement. He joined the First Christian Church in 1939, where he has served faithfully for years as president of the congregation and as an elder. Having been instrumental in securing financing and construction of the Vineville Christian Towers, he also served as the first chairman of their board. He served his community through the Rotary Club, the board of the Salvation Army, as president of the Manufacturer’s Bureau and the Shield Club.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Dorothy Wynn Joiner and children, Nancy Hiatt (Joe) and Lynn Lane. His grandchildren are Nancy Marie Douglas (Dave), Michael Lane, Catherine Martin (Jason), Dorothy Hiatt, Carol Hiatt and his great-grandchildren, Caroline Douglas and John Preston Martin. Also surviving are his brothers, Henry Joiner (Viva), Buford Joiner (Miriam); and sister, Helen Thomas (John W.); and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the John Joiner memorial fund at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 2306 Vineville Ave., Macon, GA 31204. Services will be held at the First Christian Church on Saturday, June 18 at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Janetta Cravens and the Rev. Lynn Lane presiding. Burial will be private for family only in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Visit www.mem.com to express tributes. — Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Macon



LOCAL DEATHS



Lillia Mae Cody

Lillia Mae Cody, of Adel died June 15, 2005, at her residence. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced at a later date by Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, Adel.



Larry G. King

Larry G. King, 64, of Lakeland passed away Monday, June 13, 2005, at his residence after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Southside Baptist Church with the Rev. Austin DeLoach and Pastor Tim King officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery. — Music Funeral Services of Lakeland