THE JUDY COOPER STORY
Judy Lynn Cooper was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on October 04, 1946.
She grew up in a loving Christian home with hard-working parents and two brothers; Judy was the middle child. Her mom would read Proverbs to her every night before bed. Judy was baptized at 12 years old.
One of her favorite memories:
“Our family owned a small country grocery store (which later evolved into a furniture/ appliance store). Our business was next door to our house and required “all hands on deck.” We all worked – I learned to drive by delivering groceries to shut-ins.
Lunchtime meant grabbing a bite one at a time while the rest of the family managed the store. Sunday lunch was our only unhurried sit-down together meal! All four generations would cook Sunday lunches after church. We all lived together under the same roof, and I attribute this to my respect for older people.”
After graduating from high school, she attended for two years at Freed-Hardeman and then transferred to Harding University with a degree in journalism and psychology.
Judy met her lifelong friend, Linda Sue, during a summer journalism workshop at Ol Miss. One evening, they attended a devotional at the Student Center, and Linda pointed out a guy to Judy whom she had just met. Yep! Charlie Cooper was right there in the holy, and Linda had a massive crush on Coop, as she would call him. As fate would have it, Linda went to Germany to study abroad and told Judy to take good care of Coop while she was gone.
Weeks later, Judy wrote Linda a letter telling her, “I never meant for this to be so special, but it is.” Three weeks later (yes, letters were the way to communicate long distance), Judy heard from Linda, and she told Judy, “He’s a great guy! Go for it. I knew we would never date. Linda and Judy were at each other’s weddings and remain great friends today!
Charlie and Judy were married on August 10, 1973, and were blessed with two wonderful children and three grandchildren. Kim is the youngest, and her older brother is Shane. They are very close and took family trips together growing up, and last year, they all took a trip together to Maine. Charlie has always loved the outdoors, hiking and hunting. Judy shared that Charlie’s nickname was Bear, as he liked to take afternoon naps. Charlie oversaw water purification systems for Research in Agriculture in the Federal Government. He was “solid, what you saw was what you got, dependable, loved God, family, mentor, good provider, and was a Deacon and Elder in the church.” They enjoyed 43 beautiful years together.
Judy enjoyed several jobs over the years, including working for newspapers, radio, and TV stations, putting her journalism degree to great use. She worked in counseling for mental health for 12 years, even starting an alcohol/drug rehab program at the University of Mississippi. She then served 16 years at the Regional Center in Mississippi for those with disabilities. She helped many students receive internships and practicums through this program.
When Charlie’s health declined, she retired in 2010 as his full-time caregiver. They were blessed with nurse friends of Judy and four ladies in particular that Charlie lovingly referred to as Charlie’s Angels. He and Judy never missed a Sunday attending church. They loved to worship together. Charlie passed away at home on a Sunday in 2016. Although Judy misses him so much, she was thankful he was not in pain anymore and at home with our Lord.
Charlie and Judy lived on a farm in the country with 40 beautiful acres of land and horses. Kim loved horses, so she and Charlie got her one, and then Kim insisted the whole family have one to ride together. This is where they raised their family. In reflection, she says it’s the awareness now that he is not here to help with everything he did. For instance, when something was broken, Charlie would fix it. She joked, “Now, it stays broken unless I call a friend for help. I find I am more confident as time goes on. I have stepped up to the plate doing things I hadn’t done before. I know this is not the end. There are good times ahead, and I have many blessings.”
After Charlie’s death, Judy had a dear friend call her and ask her to go with her to a jail ministry. It gave her purpose and a chance to give back and love others. One particular memory is the day she baptized a lady into Christ. When the lady came out of the water, they sang, How Great Thou Art. The lady said, “I am clean. I am new, and I am saved!” Finding purpose and giving back are ways Judy has coped with the loss of Charlie. She enjoys sports, gym, exercising, and coffee with friends. She loves listening to others’ stories and puts in a good word for Jesus whenever possible.
She advises women who have lost their spouse: “Family is such a huge blessing—special occasions are important, so make an effort to be included. Keep things as usual and light-hearted as possible. Celebrate stuff we have to be thankful for. You are not alone; people do care, and let them be a part of your life. Don’t hibernate; stay active in church, with friends, and with activities you enjoy. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Written by Pam Foster