Joshua Cole Cooper

Joshua Cole Cooper was born September 25, 2001 to Shenell J. Rice and Jemal S. Cooper. He shared a special relationship with his stepfather, Terrence L. Glass.

Joshua was known as Josh to family and friends. Anyone encountering him was captivated by his beautiful soul, as he radiated love. His bright eyes and contagious smile would draw any stranger into an enjoyable conversation. There are no words in this world that can enrapture the brilliance and illumination of his soul.

Josh showed the world what love looks like through his actions and his character. His soul is kind, thoughtful and empathetic of others. Josh enjoyed having profound intellectual conversations that caused for deep thinking. Josh is a free spirit and thinker and lived his life the way that he saw fit. Josh was wise beyond his years. He was a one-of-a-kind human being and was loved by so many people. Josh is the definition of love. And because of him, there are so many people in this world that will have love for a lifetime, leaving those of us behind with such full hearts.

Josh felt a strong connection with God and was faithful in his convictions. He spoke with passion to excitably share with the world his relationship with God, as he enjoyed conversing to others about walking in God’s light. Josh emulates God’s light and love, brightening the world for all those who were blessed to experience his presence. Josh believed in his love with God so strongly that he lived with a peaceful heart. His heart and soul are genuine, and he would want for us to carry on his memory by saying long live our friend Josh.

Josh admired his mother and shared an indestructible and powerful bond with her. The love between the two is a connection that we can only hope to experience in this life. As a child, he would write her letters to tell her how much he loved her and how fierce and strong he saw her to be. His favorite song to her is “You Will Be Loved”. Whenever this song came on the radio, Josh had to make sure he sang the loudest of everyone so his adoration for her could be heard. The way that Josh saw the world and the love that he had to offer is an obvious reflection of the love that surrounded him.

His brother, Tyler, set a good example for Josh and was a major influence in his life. The two were inseparable, and arguments never last long because the two of them loved each other too much to ever really be mad at the other. The two of them loved to motivate each other to be better versions of themselves, challenging each other to elevate their skills in one way or another. Even when one lost, they both won because of the respect and encouragement that they had for each other. The love between these two is everlasting and an experience to cherish, as there are few people in this world who make you feel as loved the way Josh did. Josh and his brother are the definition of unconditional love and show the strength and power of brotherhood.

Josh and his father figure, Terrence “Buddy”, share an exceptional bond and fondness of one another. Josh gravitated to Buddy at a young age, which developed into a relationship that Josh knew he could always count on. At times, when Josh asked his mother for permission, if she answered no, he would always say, “I’ll just call Buddy”.

Family is everything to Josh. Josh spent a great deal of time in this life with his special grandmother, Marsha, who he called Granny. Marsha’s dedication of bringing her family together created a closeness amongst her grandchildren.

Josh’s sense of fashion was reflective of who he was as a person. He was unapologetically himself and was comfortable liking what he liked regardless. Josh has a positive influence on others, including his guidance with helping his grandfather, Edward, “drip with swag” by getting some Converse shoes so he could be hip.

Josh also shared an extraordinary bond with his Uncle O’Mandre, who served as a positive role model and mentor. Josh enjoyed calling his uncle multiple times daily just to share their love of playfulness and exchange laughs. Josh loved to talk with his uncle about politics, world issues, his dreams and aspirations, and where he wanted to see his life go, including researching colleges to attend. Josh was creative and a problem solver, which sparked many interesting conversations between the two.

Josh shared many firsts with his Auntie Tyra, as she helped provide care for him during his preschool years. Josh would text his Auntie just to tell her to have a great day, or call her singing “Auntie Tyra, Auntie Tyra”. Josh felt unconditionally loved by his Auntie, and regularly called to tell her this to share his love. Josh would call her even when he knew she was mad at him, just to sing to her, because he knew her love for him and how to make her laugh. No one could ever stay mad at Josh. He shared a divine closeness with his cousins, even though he would write letters to the adults telling on them for drinking all the pop while the grown-ups were not around.

A special memory for Josh was the year he played football for the Fort Wayne Metro Team that his father, Jemal, coached. This was the year the team took the “Superbowl Championship”. Josh was so excited for one game as he got a surprise visit from his late Uncle Eddie, who affectionally referred to him as “Boog Baby Love”. Josh also played football at Pal Football and Woodside Middle School. Basketball was another sport that Josh enjoyed, in which he also played for Woodside and the YMCA.

Josh enjoyed sharing special philosophical conversations with his Aunt Chaunda about God and the universe. The two would lose track of time talking all night long.

Josh enjoyed doing things on his time and had his own time zone. There were many times that parents of friends would come to pick him up and they would spend long periods of time waiting in the driveway. But still, they could not be mad, because every time he would come running to the car carrying his shoes, lotion, and wearing his big smile that melted away any annoyance from waiting way to long. Josh taught people patience.

Josh is survived by his loving mother Shenell (Terrence Glass) Rice, father Jemal Cooper; brothers, Tyler Rice and Malek Martin; sisters, Jayla Cooper, Rayona Gardner and Dionna Bratton; grandmothers, Marsha Rice and Irma Nikolaenko; grandfathers, Edward (Vickie) Rice and Robert (Mary) Cooper; great grandmothers, Robbie Wynn and Dorothy Macon; great grandfather, Arthur (Lucille) Rice; an aunt, Tyra Rice; uncles, O’Mandre (Chaunda) Hall, Isiah Davis III, Lovelle (Keisha) Cooper, Brandon Cooper and Eric Nokolaenko; special cousins My’Airra Rice, Jaylin Rice, Nya Rice, Juelz Rice, Alexis Rice, Zion Rice, BrookLynn Hall, Jeremiah Hall, Kennedy Rice, Jackson Hall, Aiden Rice and Braiden Rice; along with a host of great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, a niece, a nephew, and many friends.

Josh was preceded in death by his Maternal Uncle, Edward “Eddie” Rice Jr. and his Great Grandmother, Winnifred Rice.

His transition from this life was on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, but he will live forever in our hearts.