Wilson Avery Cooper

Wilson Avery Cooper, 87, of Victory Point, Morganton, NC, died Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at Autumn Care of Drexel after a period of declining health. Born in Burke County, NC on June 18, 1920, he was the son of the late Sam Jones Cooper and Mattie Jane McNeely Cooper. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Lettie Brittain Cooper; a son, Rhett Cooper; three sisters, Bernice Griffin, Sarah Weir, and Beulah Sherrill; a half-sister, Jesse Powell Mull; two brothers, Colon Cooper and Lloyd Cooper; and a half-brother, Bud Powell.Wilson was a member of the First Church of God, Drexel. He organized and performed with the Messengers Quartet and had a TV show on WLOS in Asheville for a period of time. He was president of the Drexel Lions Club and a founder and a charter member of the Drexel Community Center. He was a long time resident of the Drexel community.Mr. Cooper is survived by his wife, Sarah Louana Duckworth-Cooper of the home; grandsons, Rhett and Clint Cooper; a granddaughter, Angelique Cooper-Gianakos; a step-grandson, Scott Cooper; great-granddaughters, Oakley and Onna Gianakos; step-sons, Doug and Greg Duckworth; a step-daughter, Melanie Duckworth Honeycutt; step-grandsons, Rhett Duckworth, Gregory Duckworth, Tory Honeycutt, and Wesley Honeycutt; a step-granddaughter, Lindsay Duckworth Blalock; step-great-grandsons, Dakota Duckworth and Trevor Honeycutt; one nephew, and four nieces.The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 16, 2007 at the First Church of God, Drexel with the Reverends Maxine McCall and Tony Didway officiating. Burial will follow in Drexel Memorial Park with military graveside rites to be performed by Valdese American Legion Post #234. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. At other times the family will be at the residence. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God of Drexel, P.O. Box 218, Drexel, NC 28619 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.