Samuel Taylor Cooper Jr.

Samuel Taylor Cooper Jr., age 79, went home to be with the Lord on January 1, 2026, at his home in Montgomery, Alabama. Born on May 16, 1946, in Birmingham, Alabama, Sam lived a life marked by faith, service, laughter, and a deep love for family.

Sam was a proud graduate of Hayneville High School, earned his undergraduate degree from Rhodes College, where he also served as football team captain and was named Most Valuable Player his senior year. He later completed his master’s degree at Troy University. His competitive spirit never left him, whether on the football field, in the woods, or cheering loudly for Auburn, the Green Bay Packers, or the Atlanta Braves.

First and always, Sam loved the Lord. His faith was not just something he believed, but something he lived. He devoted countless hours to prayer ministry, served faithfully as an elder at Vaughn Park Church for 24 years, sat on the board of First Choice Women’s Center for many years, and volunteered with the Montgomery Inner-City Children’s Ministry. If help was needed, Sam showed up, humbly and always faithfully.

He loved his wife and family fiercely. Married to the love of his life, Emily Autrey Cooper, for 52 wonderful years, Sam was a devoted husband, proud father, and joyful grandfather. Few things delighted him more than watching and teaching his granddaughter to swim, play basketball, and instilling in her the importance of hiding God’s Word in her heart through lessons usually sprinkled with encouragement, gentle coaching, and a story or two.

Sam had a deep love for the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, the stories they inspired, and the quiet early mornings that made them special. He honorably served our country in the Alabama Air National Guard. He was a football, basketball and track and field coach, a leader in business as a banker for over 30 years (15 years as Division President of BancorpSouth Bank), and a man known for integrity, wisdom, and kindness in every role he held.

He was a beloved breakfast biscuit baker, a gifted writer, poet, and storyteller, and a man who could make you laugh, think, and feel deeply, sometimes all at once. Sam had a way of making people feel seen and valued, often with a quick prayer, a well-timed joke, and a warm smile.

Sam is survived by his wife, Emily Autrey Cooper; his daughters Shae Cooper Harrell (Trent) and Blake Cooper Kizlauskas (Andy); his grandchildren Tanner Trent Harrell and Olivia Blake Harrell; his brother Donny Cooper (Ceil Ann); and his sisters Becky Cooper Oakes (John Allen) and Cathy Cooper Sellers (Terry).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Taylor Cooper Sr. and Sara Chisolm Cooper.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Vaughn Park Church in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The family will receive visitors beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to First Choice Women’s Medical Center (supportfirstchoice.org) or The ALS Foundation (als.org).

Though Sam will be dearly missed his legacy of faith, love, service, and joy will continue to ripple through every life he touched.