Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, at Brandon Baptist Church for Mrs. Darlene Waldo Cooper, 73, of Brandon, who died on Sunday, Feb. 4, at her residence. Dr. Gary Richardson, the Rev. Huey Dedmon, the Rev. Steve Stone and the Rev. Gayden Harrell officiated. The committal service followed at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Grenada. The Rev. Craig Baker officiated.
Darlene was born on June 22, 1950, the daughter of the late T.J. and the late Tressie Collins Waldo. She attended Clarke College and faithfully served alongside her husband, Dr. Clarence Cooper Jr., having spent more than 50 years in Southern Baptist churches across the mid-South including, Keownville Baptist Church in New Albany; Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church in Ripley, Tenn.; New Liberty Baptist Church in Vardaman; Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada, and Brandon Baptist Church in Brandon.
Darlene worked as a ministry assistant at Emmanuel Baptist Church during Dr. Cooper’s pastorate there and most recently enjoyed serving with the Brandon Baptist Church kitchen ministry. She also enjoyed numerous mission trips through the years to Cuba, Japan, Thailand, Peru, Brazil and other points across the world.
In addition to her parents and her husband, one brother, J.W. Waldo; a brother-in-law, James Byford, and great nephew, Cody Byford, preceded Darlene in death.
Survivors include, her daughter, Amy Cooper Harbison and her husband, David, of Madison, Ala.; son, Clarence Cooper III of Memphis, Tenn.; sister, Mary Byford of Coffeeville; one brother, Chappell Waldo (Cathy) of Grenada; grandson, Cooper Harbison of Oxford and granddaughter, Allie Harbison, of Birmingham Ala.
Pallbearers in Brandon were Lamar Adair, Richard Heaslip, Vernon Johnson, Gary LaRose, Steve Rachel and Lyle Tate. Pallbearers in Grenada were Johnny Byford, Jimmy Byford, Gary Byford, Barry Baker, Max Benoist and Brandon Harrison.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Mission: Dignity, P.O. Box 819109, Dallas, TX 75381-9957.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
