Mary Perkins Cooper passed away February 19, 1977

Articles have been edited by Suzanne Forte for brevity and to avoid mention of living individuals.

Mrs. Mary Perkins Cooper, age 88, has lived an interesting life - from being baptized in the Chattahoochee River at age 13 to sewing the uniforms for some of Loganville's early basketball teams.

Mrs. Cooper was born in Morgan County, the daughter of the late J. I. Perkins and the late Annie Elizabeth Nunn.  She and her husband, the late William Walter Cooper, raised nine girls and one boy.

"I have 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 1 great granddaughter" she says proudly.

Mrs. Cooper is well known in Loganville for her abilities as a seamstress, although she doesn't sew much anymore.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper moved to Loganville from Youth about 1944.  They lived at many places in Youth, including the Clay place, the Broadnax place and the Hodges place.

"We only came to Loganville back then to buy an Atlanta paper," she remembers.  "We did all our shopping at John Hammond's store. It was later owned by Johnny Byrd, who is a fine man and was really good to us when we lived at Youth."

Mrs. Cooper has been a member at Corinth Christian Church since 1918.  Her husband's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Cooper, were charter members of Corinth and she remembers their telling of going to Corinth when the church met in a blacksmith shop.

After her husband died in 1948 Mrs. Cooper worked for several years at Carwood in Monroe.  Later she worked as hostess of the Loganville American Legion.

In conclusion Mrs. Cooper looked back over her 89 years and said, "I've really had a good life.  I have no regret.  We always had plenty to eat, and the good Lord has watched over me.  I don't know why he's keeping me here so long, but I'm sure there is a purpose."