John Wallace Cooper

Mr. John Wallace Cooper was born on October 7, 1929 to the union of the late Ned and Selie Richardson Cooper in Sardis, Alabama. John departed in to the arms of Jesus on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at the age of 86 at 12:05 PM. John was the last of 18 siblings to be called home.

John married his childhood sweetheart, Lonnie R. Hatcher, at the age of 19. Soon after, John became the Father of a daughter (Yvonne). In order to provide a better life for his family, John relocated his family to Boston, Massachusetts where he worked for decades at the Container Corporation where he eventually retired. John went on to have three sons (John Jr., Alonzo, and Ronnie) while in Boston.

John was well know and respected within the community. John was known to often be caught coincidentally hanging out at the same places his teenage sons were! Regardless of where he went, everyone knew not to mess with John Wallace!

John enjoyed being outside, entertaining family, constructing and deconstructing trinkets, and exercising. Even when he was in his 70's, John was running and doing 100 pushups a day with one of his grandchildren on his back. John was often thought of as "Superman" because he could do and fix anything! Those close to him often called him "boss."

John relocated to Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Lonnie, to enjoy a more quiet, restful retirement in 1994. John quickly adjusted to his new environment and became a member of Turner Chapel AME church for years before his wife, Lonnie became ill and could no longer attend. John worked effortless to ensure the health and care of his wife during her battle with Alzheimer's until her passing in 2010.

John was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He would give the shirt off his back for his family without question. John embedded the values of family and hard work in to his children and grandchildren. John exemplified the notion of "family first." John will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Lonnie Cooper after 61 years of marriage. He is also preceded in death by 18 siblings: Mr. James Cooper (Mary Jane), Mr. Willie Cooper (Grace), Mr. Booker T. Cooper (Gertrude), Mr. Jessie Cooper (Christen), Mr. Frank Cooper (Sammie Lula), Mrs. Katie Mae Duncan (Cleotus), Mrs. Nora Bell Coleman (Willie), Mrs. Lillie Bell Mcconica (Jack), Mrs. Lula Mae King (George), Mrs. Angie David (Johnny), Mrs. Fannie Mae Cooper (Rhodes), Mrs. Shevel Lee Cooper, Mr. Percy Cooper (Evelyn), Mr. William Cooper (Mary), Mr. Artis Cooper (Earline), Mr. Billy Jack Cooper, Mrs. Beatrice Hunter (Sandy), and 1 brother that died at birth.

John leaves behind his, daughter, Yvonne Williams (James), sons John Cooper, Jr., Alonzo Cooper (Pamela) and Ronnie Cooper (Ayanna), grandchildren, Marquis Nelson, James “Jay” Williams II, Denice Garnett, Leah Williams, Teneal Cooper, Ronnie T.Cooper, Breanna Cooper and Jameal Cooper, great-grandchildren, Quiayla Nelson and Kennedy Garrett as well as a large extended family.

Funeral services for John will be on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 2:00pm at Turner AME Church with a viewing from 12:30-2:00pm, 492 North Marietta Pkwy NE, Marietta, GA 30060. Interment will follow at Kennesaw Memorial Park. Arrangements under the direction of Woodstock Funeral Home, Woodstock, GA.