Dorothy B. Cooper

Dorothy Brady Cooper, daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. John N. Brady, was born in Milford, Delaware, on December 8, 1926. She departed this life on Sunday, April 15, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy graduated from Milford School # 3 and Delaware College High School for Colored Students. She attended and graduated from Delaware State College (now University), with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. Later, she did graduate work at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University. Then, she taught at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, Towne Point Elementary School, and East Dover Elementary School in Dover and Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Milford. Teaching was her vocation and avocation. Her motto was to ”always do unto other people’s children as you want them to do unto your children.” In 1947, Dorothy married the love of her life, Charles Cooper and together they had three children, Charles Cooper II, Beverly Cooper Hayes, and Keith Brady Cooper. Her hobbies included attending cultural activities, spectator sports, the theater, music, tutoring, cooking, traveling and meeting people. Through the years, she was a member of several organizations, but most recently she was active with Epsilon Iota Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Dover Delaware Chapter of the National Sorority of the Links, Inc., The National Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, Inc., Delaware State University Alumni Association, Kent County Delaware Chapter, and the John H. Porter-First State Chapter-Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. In addition, she was a devoted member of Church Women United and the Whatcoat United Methodist Church, where she sang in the Chancel Choir and served on several committees. She was recognized many times for her meritorious service. One of the proudest moments of her life was when she was a member of a Mass Choir that performed at Constitution Hall, in Washington, D.C. She was also a tribal citizen of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians of Dover. In 1991, Dorothy retired from her teaching career that spanned 35 years, and then spent countless hours as a volunteer tutor, participating in community service, and serving her church. She also enjoyed traveling to the West Coast and visiting her children, first to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and then several trips to Ashland, Oregon, and California. Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many. She was the family matriarch, who was caring, loving, energetic and independent. She often stated that “she was huffing and blowing, but thank God she was still going.” In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward Cooper, in 1999 and son-in-law Earl O. Hayes, in 2000. She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Cooper-Hayes of Dover; sons, Charles E. Cooper II (Kathy) of Dover, and Keith Cooper (Mariana) of Ashland, Oregon; grandchildren, Robert Winfree, Jr. (Natalie) of Lincoln University, PA, Marcus Hayes (Kim) of Plains, PA, Brady Cooper, Sophia Cooper, Gabriella Cooper of Ashland, Oregon; great grandchildren, Mason Hayes and Carter Hayes of Lewes, DE, Cooper Hayes and Ava Ryzner, of Plains, PA and Amelia Winfree, Lincoln University, PA; and a host of nieces and nephews. Lovingly Submitted, The Family To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy B. Cooper, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Dorothy B. Cooper

December 8, 1926 - April 15, 2018