Florence Yolanda Cooper

    Florence Yolanda Cooper, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, was Born on March 24th, 1937 to the late Don and Essie Garnett. She was one of ten children. She peacefully departed this life on October 14th, 2020, at Christiana Hospital with her children by her side.

    Florence received her early education at George Washington Carver School in Elkton MD. She went on to work as a nurse’s aid at Union Hospital in Elkton, MD and later went on to retire from working for Sally Britta at Todd Bridge Farm in Chesapeake City, MD. She then went on to start her own cleaning service. 

    Florence married James Cooper, Jr. on June 13, 1970. She had two daughters, Melvania and Danna, and four sons, Vique, Cliffton, Kelvin, and Darryl, and two step daughters, Pamela and Francine whom she loved like her own.

    Florence was a faithful servant of God serving at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, where she sang in the choir until her health began to fail. She was the matriarch of the family. She loved spending time with them, especially gathering with them during the holidays, barbeques, and weekend dinners playing Pokeno. She enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, word searches, watching court tv, soap operas (The Young and the Restless and the Bold and Beautiful), and the game show network (Family Feud with Steve Harvey). Florence was known for wearing colorful outfits and using her gifted voice to sing for the Lord. She was a calm voice and a listening ear, a true angel from God. 

    Florence was dearly loved by her extended family. Back in the day she would sit up until the wee hours of the night having Pac Man battles on the Atari with her kids, nieces and nephews. She was a fierce competitor. She would play until the palms of her hands were blue. She often told stories of how she and Cooper would go out to the square clubs and take trips to places like Niagara Falls with her siblings and cousins.

     Florence’s home was often the place of meeting for card games, and impromptu get togethers with everyone gathering in the kitchen. Relatives sought her out when they needed someone to listen. She always seemed to have an encouraging word and inviting presence. People always left her presence feeling better than when they arrived. 

Florence was preceded in death by her grandsons Cliffton Jefferson Jr., Kevin Cooper, and Elijah Watson, granddaughter Sasha Cooper, her brother Donald Garnett, sisters Margaret Ray (Wilmer), and Shirley Morris, her father-in-law James Cooper Sr. and mother-in-law Alice Wiggins, her brothers-in-law Ralph Yellowdy, Robert Miller, Raymond Raison, and John Wiggins, and her sister-in-law Dorothy Garnett. 

    Florence is survived by her husband James Cooper Jr., her children Melvania Jefferson, Vique Jefferson (Christina), Cliffton Jefferson, Kelvin Cooper, Darryl Cooper (Valerie), and Danna Monroe, and step daughters Pamela Watson (Eugene) and Francine Boyd (Ted), her grandchildren, April Archie (Rev. Joseph Archie III), Eli Jefferson, Aaron Durham, Damion Jefferson, Jessica Cooper, Ashley Cooper, Sharde Jefferson, Iesha Jefferson, Simone Jefferson, Tia Cooper, De’Andre Cooper, Tarona Hunter (Dexter), James Henry, Tierra Henry, Eugena Watson, and Quamee Watson, 28 great grandchildren, her sisters Rosie Miller, Ida Mae Raison, Darlene Yellowdy, and Ernestine Garnett, her brothers Percy Garnett, and Morgan Garnett, and her sisters-in-law Mary Garnett, and Justine Wiggins. 

     A funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Connection Community Church, 4744 Summit Bridge Road, Middletown, DE 19709 where there will be a viewing from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Saturday.  COVID-19 protocol will be in effect. Committal service will be 2:00 P.M Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE 19701.  Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com

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