Mr. William Anderson Cooper, 70, passed from this life on Monday, March 4, 2024, at PruittHealth in Elkin, still holding the hand of his faithful wife, Jerrie Miller Cooper. Mr. Cooper was born May 27, 1953, in Welch, WV, to the late Clell and Viola Payne Cooper. Mr. Cooper was a former coal miner. He was known by all who loved him as “Sonny” and anyone that met him loved him. Sonny had a personality that was larger than life. He could weave a story, or “tall tale” as he called them, like no one else and wherever he sat at gatherings a circle of people could be found enjoying his company. In addition to his parents, Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by two brothers, James “Buddy” Cooper and Harold Douglas Cooper; and three sisters, Hazel Cooper Vance, Shirley Cooper McClellan, and Mary “Sue” Cooper Frazier. He is survived by his loving wife, Jerrie Miller Cooper of Stokes County; three children that were his world, Cathy Jo Cooper Surratt (Shane) of Carroll County VA, and James Walter Cooper (Angela) and Tirzah Faith Cooper, both of Stokes County; his grandchildren, Dillon Shane Surratt, Lauren Paige Surratt, James John Ezra Cooper (Cristina), William Walter Douglas Cooper (Abigail Coleman), Austin Wade Cooper, and Noah Gray Edwards; a great-grandson, Landon Drake Cooley; a brother, Johnny “Junior” Cooper; two sisters, Daisy Cooper Shirley of Grayson County, VA, and Thelma Cooper Bandy of Tazewell County, VA; and many, special children who he loved as his own. He went to meet nieces and nephews whose absence in this life caused him great sorrow, and he leaves behind many more to mourn his loss. There will be a celebration of his life and homegoing ceremony at his family cemetery in McDowell County, WV, at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The family will receive friends the way he always received them, in his home over coffee and at any time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friendly Chapel Church, ATTN: Mike Quesinberry, 228 Friendly Chapel Church Road, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041, to assist underprivileged folks with medical equipment. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the Cooper family.
