ETHEL M. COOPER
Ethel M. Cooper was born on Feb. 28, 1938, in Grenada, Mississippi, to the late Nathaniel and Mary L. Drinkwater. She died on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021.
She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and, later in life, was a member of Saint Matthew United Methodist Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She found the love of her life, Isiah Cooper Sr., to whom she was joined in holy matrimony for more than 60 years, until the time of his death. They were husband and wife as well as best friends. Upon moving to Sumter, Ethel was a member of New Fellowship Covenant Ministries Inc. for the last 12 years of her life. Ethel Cooper, who was the mother of New Fellowship Covenant Ministries, enjoyed fishing with her husband and brother, George. She enjoyed cooking, teaching and passing on recipes to her grandchildren about how to ensure that everyone was full. She loved to go thrift shopping or what she called going to rummage sales. She was a quite person, but would engage in humorous conversations that made everyone laugh. She enjoyed the word of God, especially when it was being preached by her granddaughter, Minister Victoria, or her daughter, Elder Gwen Parker. Once her health started to fail, her spiritual fulfillment came from the NFC Bible Study conference line every Wednesday evening. Ethel had an excellent work ethic. She worked most of her life as a housekeeper, machine operator at the Wonder Bread Bakery in Milwaukee and a machine operator at Brach's Candy Factory in Davenport, Iowa, until her retirement. After retirement, Ethel and her husband decided to leave the snow and move to Sumter.
Ethel leaves to cherish in her memory: two daughters, Elder Gwendolyn (Israel) Parker of Sumter and Crystal (Jeff) Kane of Las Vegas; two brothers, George Drinkwater of Milwaukee and A.C. Drinkwater of Grenada; two sisters, Mary Ann (Walter) Harbin and Cordia Sue Drinkwater, both of Grenada; one aunt, Lucy Harris; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Watson of Milwaukee; three grandchildren, Minister Victoria K. Parker, Michael Cooper and Anthony Cooper Sr.; one goddaughter, Nicole (Pastor Leonzo) Lynch of Charlotte, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren, Arianna N. Parker, Anthony Cooper Jr., Christopher J. Parker-Sibley and Isiah Maurice Cooker aka Little Ike; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting no visitations at the home.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday in the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Kenneth Isaac officiating.
The procession will leave from the home at 11:20 a.m.
Burial will be at Robinson Cemetery, Sumter.
Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.