Rhett Delano Cooper

Rhett was born in Jacksonville, Florida on August 12, 1944. He graduated from

New Stanton High School in Jacksonville, where he played the drums for the

"Stanton Blue Devils" marching band.

After high school, he enrolled in the United States Air Force. Because of Rhett’s

high military test score, the Air Force gave him a choice to serve anywhere in

the world. Rhett chose Italy and served the United States for four years in the

field of Cryptography.

Rhett went on to get his college degree in Mathematics and Physics at Florida

A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida and graduated in 1971. In addition to

being a scholar, Rhett was an exceptional athlete in both baseball and football.

During his career, Rhett had a history of being the first to break barriers in

corporate America. He was the first African American to work at the State of

Florida Comptroller Office in Data Processing in Tallahassee, Florida, the first

African American to be employed at Independent Life Insurance Company, also

in Data Processing in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition, he was the first African

American salesman at Hallmark in the Southeast.

In addition to serving in Italy, Rhett spent years working in New York and

Kuwait for Lockheed Martin and he eventually retired in Orlando, Florida.

Rhett was a member of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church and is survived by

his wife, Beverly Orlandra Cooper, his three daughters, Rhea Darice Boyd

(Robert), Rhetta Daladier Peoples (Oscar) and Rhiva Delandra Akey. Rhett is

also survived by his two grandchildren, Robert Alexander Boyd III (Rhea) and

Nile Victoria Peoples (Rhetta), his brothers and sisters, Richelynn Davette

Douglas (Doug) of Chapin, South Carolina, Reignea Darrell Cooper of New

Orleans, Louisiana, Roderick Damon Cooper of San Antonio, Texas, Rosalyn

Denese Cooper of Honolulu, Hawaii, RaeVondalynn Daphne Caldwell (Charles)

of Jacksonville, Florida and a host of other family and friends.