Obituary of Benjamin LeRoy Cooper

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” –Revelation 21:4

Hiltons, VA - Benjamin LeRoy Cooper, 71, of Hiltons, VA passed away Saturday, June 23, 2018, at Heritage Hall, Big Stone Gap, VA after a period of declining health.

Born on January 30, 1947, in Roda, VA, the son of Willie and Lillie Caudill Cooper, he was the sixth of eleven children. He was raised in the coal camps of Southwest Virginia and spent his early years preaching the Gospel in Michigan and Florida. He returned to Virginia, married the love of his life and settled down in Hiltons to raise his family and spend his days in service to others.

He was a graduate of Appalachia High School and Mountain Empire Community College. He worked as a proud coal miner with Westmoreland Coal Company at Bullitt Mine where he was affectionately known as “Preacher” and was a member of the UMWA. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge of Mendota, VA and Kazim Shriners of Roanoke, VA.  He was a born again Christian and served as a Bishop with The Church of God.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Goode Cooper (Nov. 19, 2013); parents, Lillie and Willie Cooper; mother-in-law, Bettie Bowlin Goode; sister, Patricia Cooper; brother, Bob Cooper; and granddaughter, Allena Bright.

Survivors include his daughter, Hope Bright, Kingsport, TN; granddaughter, Cori Gilliam, Johnson City, TN; seven sisters, Emma Lou Henley, Greeneville, TN; Aliene Parrish, Vero Beach, FL; Charlotte Cooper, Jonesborough, TN; Yolanda (Coy) Barnette, Big Stone Gap, VA; Glenda Blanton, Vero Beach, FL; Jewel (Bob) Carroll, Port Orchard, WA; and Debra Hampton, Gray, TN; one brother, Gerald (Nancy) Cooper, Collinsville, MS; sister-in-law, Bulah Cooper, Vero Beach, FL and a loving host of extended family and friends.

A private memorial will be held by his family.

Carter-Trent/Scott County Funeral Home is serving the Cooper family.