Memorial Service
Saturday, May 21, 2022 | Service: 10:00 a.m. |
Howell Funeral Home Chapel |10220 Guilford Road| Jessup, MD 20794
Celebration of Life for James Cooper
Interment
Arbutus Memorial Park | 1101 Sulphur Spring Road | Baltimore, MD 21227
Obituary
David James Cooper born in Baltimore, Maryland to the Late James Fenimore Cooper, MD and Jeanne Quarles Cooper on August 3, 1965, transitioned on April 28, 2022. David spent his formative years in Columbia, Maryland, where he attended school and became an active participant in the Columbia Association Camps and sports leagues. David was an avid soccer player and as a senior at Wilde Lake High School achieve the distinction of becoming a member of the traveling soccer team. David also enjoyed swimming, fishing, and hanging out with friends and family taking full advantage of all Columbia had to offer. On May 21, 1982, the traveling soccer team was headed to South Carolina to play in a soccer tournament. Unfortunately there was a tragic car accident which resulted in David and his Father’s death. David was revived at the scene, He survived multiple surgeries and therapeutic interventions and the following year miraculously walked across the stage on time with his class as a graduating senior. David’s family are founding members of Saint John Baptist Church of Columbia, Maryland, where he was an active member and participant in the Wednesday night prayer service.
David went on to attend University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and later transferred to Howard County Community College graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. David went on to attend Coppin State University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He continued his career as an early childhood educator and enjoyed sharing stories about the children with family and friends regarding Storytime with Mr. David.
David married Rhonda Henderson September 28, 1996 , and their union created a family which included the birth of a daughter Alana Soleil Cooper born on May 18, 1999. During Alana’s early childhood, she attend the Lornwood Early Childhood Center, where her Dad was also on staff as a prekindergarten teacher.
In the early 2000’s, David took a sabbatical from teaching to care for his aging mother, through 2018 until she was admitted to Angel’s Alert an assisted living facility, As a seasoned educator, David had no difficulty returning to what he truly enjoyed, early childhood education and went to work for the Columbia Academy for several years. Following tenure at Columbia Academy, David was in search of career growth and secured a position in the Adventist Healthcare System’s Head Start program in Prince Georges County. He enjoyed the diversity of the families, co-teachers, and staff, and spoke fondly of the children and story time with Mr. David. He especially enjoyed reading the Pigeon series of books, in particular; Don’t Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus, because it made everybody laugh.
David leaves many to cherish his legacy which include a host of family and friends; his mother and loving daughter Alana, sister Lisa, brother-in-law Raymond, niece Jessica, many cousins including Robin, Karla, Kimberly, Gerald, and a very special friend considered family Cheryl Zikmund.