Dr. Bernice Louise Cooper Ed. D.

Dr. Cooper was born in Colquitt County, Georgia, July 6, 1918 to Rebecca Henderson Cooper and Leonard Lee Cooper. She was one of fourteen children, all preceding her in death.

Dr. Cooper was a career educator. She received a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1947, an M.S. in Elementary Education in 1953, and an Ed.D. in Elementary Education in 1956, all from her beloved University of Georgia. Among her many other honors was the distinction of being the first woman to receive a doctorate degree from UGA. Dr. Cooper taught at the elementary school level in Georgia and Florida from 1937 to 1953 before joining the UGA faculty where she taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in Elementary Education and Children’s Literature. She retired in 1980.

“Dr. Cooper” spent much of her time writing scholarly articles on children’s literature and educational theories, speaking at and organizing various conferences on reading, traveling the world with her UGA friends and colleagues, and faithfully attending Bulldog basketball, football, and gymnastic events. However, she became “Aunt Bernice” when she visited her family in Pavo, Georgia. There she became the supportive and encouraging sister to her siblings and their spouses and a special aunt to her multitude of nieces and nephews (and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren), who always looked forward to her visits. “Aunt Bernice” always promoted family connections and looked forward to showering her extended family with Christmas gifts and to organizing the annual Cooper Family Reunion.

Dr. Cooper is of the Methodist faith and is survived by one sister-in-law, Essie Mae Cooper of Valdosta, Georgia, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m., Friday, January 6 at Bernstein Funeral Home in Athens, with burial in Lebanon Cemetery in Pavo, Georgia at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2017, with the Rev. Marshall Singletary presiding.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.