MELBA MONTALBANO COOPER

Melba Montalbano Cooper, 98, widow of Ransom Cooper Sr., died on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Lexington.

Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late James Montalbano and Lena Wise Montalbano Watson. Mrs. Cooper was a lifelong member of Grace Baptist Church and was a very active member of the Joy Sunday School Class. She was a graduate of the Sumter Girls High School and retired from Sears Roebuck. She was also a member of the Sumter Iris Garden Club.

Surviving are a son, Ransom Cooper Jr. (Sibyl) of Lexington; a daughter, Patricia Cooper Dase of Greenville; five grandchildren, Jason Cooper, Rachel Cooper, Joel Cooper, Bryan Dase (Shay) and Greg Dase; eight great-grandchildren, Shelby and Camden Cooper, Layla, Hunter, Tyler, Alyssa and Mallory Dase and Anna Reese Rankin; four step-grandchildren, John Katsos (Cricket), Charlotte Robinson (Tommy), Scott Katsos (Leigh) and Christina Reynolds; and eight step-great-grandchildren, Emily, Samantha and Michael Katsos, Frankie, Michael, Preston and Ashley Sansone and Justine Torrence.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, James Montalbano and William Montalbano; and a sister, Frances Owens.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Shumake officiating. Burial will be at Sumter Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 140 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 210, Columbia, SC 29210.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.