Dr. Wiley Howard Cooper III

Wiley Howard Cooper, III, known as Howard, was born on October 19, 1933 in Union town, AL. He was the son of Wiley Howard Copper, Jr. and Mary Grey Morton Cooper. Upon the early death of his father, the family moved to Centerville, AL and lived with his grandfather, long time Alabama State Senator, Wiley Howard Cooper. By Howard's high school years, the family had moved to Tuscaloosa, AL where he played center on the Tuscaloosa High football team and graduated with honors.

Howard then attended the University of Alabama where he earned his degree in just 3 years. During his time at Alabama, he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and many other school organizations. He also was bestowed many honors, including elections to Jason, ODK and Phi Beta Kappa. Most importantly though, it was there that he met his future wife, Julia Anna Griffin of Leeds, Al, graduate of Ramsey High School and member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Howard went to the University of Alabama Medical School where he also earned many honors. Howard and Julie were wed in 1957 during his last year of medical school, beginning a long life together and producing 4 children: Wiley Cooper, IV (Tanya), Anna Cooper Cox (Chan), Mary Stewart Cooper, and John Means Cooper (Anne Taylor). Howard was a proud "Grandaddy" to 6 grandchildren (Wiley Howard Cooper, V. [Dawson], David Wyeth Cooper, Griffin Dean Cooper, Carlton Ramona Cooper, Julia Judge Cox, and Chandler Fletcher Cox, III) and 3 great grandchildren (Wiley Burton Cooper, Howard Parr Cooper and Maxwell Dawson Cooper).

After medical school, Howard served 2 years in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Waco, TX. During this time, he worked as an OBGYN and delivered over 600 babies. Upon finishing his time in the service, Howard moved to Winston Salem, NC to attend Wake Forest's Bowman Gray School of Medicine for a residency in radiology, finishing with honors as chief resident.

His first practice took him to Jackson, MS where he and Julie spent 4 years and made many lifelong friends. After a brief time in Albertville, AL, Howard was lured to Pensacola, FL where he practiced principally at Baptist Hospital. There he developed a successful practice and served several terms as Chief of Staff. In the later years of his career, he also handled radiology duties at South Baldwin Hospital (Foley, AL) and even taught classes at University of South Alabama Medical School.

During their many years in the Pensacola area, Howard and Julie made numerous lifelong friends and were members of many charitable organizations and social groups. Howard was also an active member of Pensacola Country Club where he dutifully served on the Board and as President, but much preferred his time on the golf course and in the 19th Hole. He cherished his time with his regular group of friends there, and greatly enjoyed all of the banter and camaraderie that they shared.

In 2006, Howard retired and he and Julie moved to Birmingham to be closer to family. One of their real pleasures was their daily lunch visits to many of Birmingham's finest restaurants. Another was their regular Sunday evening dinners with their 6 grandchildren and later their great grandchildren.

Howard was a man of tremendous intelligence, high integrity and high standards. He was an only child, but became the patriarch of a large and loving family where he will be missed by all.