Obituary for MGen. J. Gary Cooper at CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENT FUNERAL HOME, INC. (2024)

Major General Jerome Gary Cooper, USMC (Retired), was called to be with the Lord on the morning of April 27, 2024. Gary was born on October 2, 1936 in Lafayette, Louisiana to Algernon J. Cooper, Sr. and Gladys Mouton Cooper, and was the oldest of six children.

Gary received his B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps upon graduation in June, 1958. Following graduation from The Basic School, he initially reported for duty with the 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. General Cooper served on active duty for 12 years, commanding a number of units, including the Marine Detachment aboard the Guided Missile Cruiser Chicago. In 1967, he became the first black officer in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry company into combat which is noted in the historical calendar of the Corps.

In Vietnam, General Cooper earned a number of decorations for heroism including the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts for wounds received in ground action, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry three times. His other military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

He joined the Individual Ready Reserve in January, 1970. As a reservist, he has commanded the 13th Force Reconnaissance Company in Mobile, the 4th Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division and a number of other mobilization assignments including Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 1988, he was promoted to Major General and returned to active duty as Director of Personnel, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. He retired from the Corps in 1996.

In 1974, General Cooper was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. He was one of the first African-Americans since the Reconstruction era elected to the Legislature from south Alabama. He was reelected in 1978 but resigned to serve in the Governor’s Cabinet as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. In this Cabinet position, Commissioner Cooper managed a staff of over 4,000 and the largest agency budget in the State of Alabama.

President Bush, in 1989 appointed, and the U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Cooper as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and the Environment. He participated in the planning of Operation Desert Storm. He served throughout the Bush Administration.

From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Cooper was the Senior Vice-President of David Volkert and Associates, a regional engineering and architectural firm. Gary also served as Vice President of David Volkert & Associates from 1981 to 1989.

In 1994, President Clinton selected Mr. Cooper to serve as the United States Ambassador to Jamaica. Upon Senate confirmation, Ambassador Cooper presented his credentials to the Governor General of Jamaica on November 4, 1994. Ambassador Cooper returned to his home in Mobile, Alabama in December 1997.

Mr. Cooper faithfully served as Chairman of CNB Bancorp, Inc. until retirement in 2022. In addition ,he served on numerous other boards including, The Community Foundation of South Alabama, the American Friends of Jamaica, U.S. Steel, Inc., PNC Financial Services, GenCorp., Protective Life Insurance Co., and the Air University Board of Visitors. Gary was very proud to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Commonwealth National Bank, the first minority owned National Bank in Alabama.

Gary is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile, the Montford Point Marine Association, the NAACP - Unit 5044 and the Marine Corps League. In addition, he was active in numerous other community organizations, especially those serving youth such as the Hope Boxing Academy.

Gary is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Beverly Martin Cooper and three adult children, Patrick Charles Cooper, Joli Claire Cooper and Gladys Shawn Cooper; seven grandchildren, Sophie Cooper (Dan Fishman), Celia Mouton Cooper, Patrick Samuel Cooper, Oliver Cooper, Ashley Harold Cooke, III, Alana Marian Nelson and Anthony Cooper Nelson, Jr., and one beautiful great granddaughter Annalise Boaz Cooper Fishman; brother Algernon Cooper, Jr., Esquire and former Mayor of Prichard, Alabama and sister Dominique Cooper, Artist residing in Santa Fe, NM; special nephew Christopher (Amy) Cooper and a host of other nieces and nephews, family, friends and lifelong friends James Harrell, Nettie Stewart and Nathaniel Jones.

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Obituary for MGen. J. Gary Cooper at CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENT FUNERAL HOME, INC. (2024)

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