Mary Cooper

Mary Evelyn Cooper, age 91, of Chesterfield, VA, departed this life on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Mary was a lifelong resident of Chesterfield County where she was a community activist. She was a 4-H leader, Home Demonstration club member and received numerous awards in the â??Keep Virginia Cleanâ? campaign. Mary was a dedicated member of Second Branch Baptist Church, and a founding member of the Beach Community Grange, where she spent many days with public service projects and community improvement activities. Her love of flowers resulted in many ribbons and awards from the Chesterfield county fair. After raising children, she enjoyed a successful career as a real estate agent. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver and Martha Graves; brother, O.C. Graves; and sisters, Audrey Sinclair, Rose Dundalow and Geraldine Terrell. She is survived by her son, Philip Cooper (Ruby); daughters, Geneva Ledford (David), Linda Helslander (Phillip), Gale Fleenor-Sheridan (Wayne), Sybil Woodard (Charles), and Odell Covington; 8 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and friend and caretaker, Alice Allen. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Chester chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 11 a.m. in the Sunset Memorial Park, Chester. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Second Branch Baptist Church, 12217 Second Branch Rd, Chesterfield Court House, VA 23838 or the Beach Community Grange, PO Box 2934, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Condolences to the family may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .