Randolph County Georgia Biographies Baptist Bio of Rev. William H. Cooper Submitted by Charlene Parker Sep 2002 ****************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profitor for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ****************************************************************************************** From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller W. H. COOPER W. H. Cooper was born in Lee County, January 15, 1842. He was the son of George W. Cooper and Charity Reynolds Cooper. He attended the ordinary schools of the county until 1860, when he entered Mercer University at Penfield, remaining nearly two years. Suffering caused by the amputation of an arm compelled him to abandon his studies and retire from college. However, he returned afterwards and spent a short time in studing Theology, under the instruction of Dr. M. M. Crawford, after which he taught school in different localities for ten years. In 1859 he joined the Palmyra Church for baptism. He was ordained in September 1865 and since that period served many churches as pastor in Southwest Georgia, including Pine Bluff Church, Dougherty County, Palmyra and Bethany Churches in Lee County, Mt. Enon, Mitchell, Bethel, Baker County, and Cuthbert and Ft. Gaines. Cuthbert was his place of residence, he having moved there in 1880. For three years he was Public School Commissioner for Dougherty County. After the organization of the Bethel Sunday School Association, he was an active and efficient president, and under his leadership the Sunday School work of the Bethel Association made rapid progress. He was twice married, the first time to Miss Lizzie A. Ryals on August 1, 1862, and the second time to Miss Rebecca A. Reynolds on January 14, 1869. From this marriage he had two sons and one daughter. Brother Cooper was a good preacher, pleasant and affable in his manner and sociable in his disposition. He did a great work in the Bethel Association for many years. following notes added by Debra Crosby Lee County 1850 Census page 271 a 7 7 George W. Cooper 45 m Blacksmith 358 England Elizabeth B. 37 f Ga James 11 m Ga William H. 9 m Ga Sarah F. 2 f Ga 1860 Lee CoCensus pg 681 70 George W. Cooper 56 m Mechanic England Elizabeth 47 f Ga Sarah F. 12 f Ga Rebecca E. 9 f Ga Mary 7 f Ga A. Mcmillin 30 m FL house carpenter Lee Co. Ga Cemeteries Cooper, Charity No Dates wife of George W. Cooper & mother of Rev. W. H.Cooper Palmyra Church - Old Cemetery REPRINT of OFFICIAL REGISTER of LAND LOTTERY OF GEORGIA 1827 49th DAY'S DRAWING-Continued. MONTGOMERY. page 153 Fortunate Drawers: George Cooper, Captains District: do. Number: 7 District: 21 County: Lee County