Sherman Lonzy Cooper, Jr., 89, passed away on December 8, 2020 at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Sherman was born on March 30, 1931 to Sherman Lonzy Cooper, Sr. and Anna Louise McCartt Cooper in Wartburg, Tennessee. He was the fifth of six children and the youngest son. His father was a coal miner and his mother worked in the school cafeteria. Together, his parents owned Boliver's, a restaurant in Sunbright, Tennessee.
Sherman entered the U.S. Army on August 16, 1949 in Harriman, Tennessee, with the rank of Private E-1. On December 2, 1952, he wed Martha Joyce Fairchild of Sunbright, Tennessee. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on December 16, 1952, at Vint Hill Farms Station in Warrenton, Virginia, with the rank of Technical Sergeant. Sherman served his country as a high speed radar operator and morse code intelligence operator. A lifelong public servant, he later worked for the United States Postal Service, where he learned American Sign Language and represented his deaf co-workers as a union steward.
Sherman was a member of Hermitage First United Methodist Church. He taught Sunday school and served as Council Chair on the Church Council at Cook's United Methodist Church. He loved opening his home to family and friends whenever possible.
Sherman is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Martha Joyce Cooper; his three children, Stephen Cooper of Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife MaryAlice; Sharon Cronk of Niantic, Connecticut; and Tina Kapavik of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with her husband, Monty; and his sister, Mildred Cooper Dabran. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Heather Cadenhead with her husband, Tyson; Rachael Camp with her husband, Austin; Colton Kapavik; Catherine Cronk; Wesley Mullins; Mandy Lee with her husband, Randy; Tyler Cotterman; and Zachary Cotterman; and his great-grandchildren, Milo Cadenhead; Linus Cadenhead; Emilia Camp; Kyla Mullins; Cooper Mullins; Ethan Lee; and Ryan Lee.
Sherman was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mabel Cooper Kendrick and her husband, Paul; his brother, John D. Cooper and his wife, Betty; his sister, Gertie Mae Cooper Manney and her husband, John R.; his brother, A.B. Cooper and his wife, Carol; and his brother-in-law, Rudy Dabran.
Visitation will be held on December 15, 2020 at 10 a.m. at Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens with a graveside service to follow at 11am.
