Obituary of Pastor Emeritus Lula Mae Cooper

Elder Lula Mae Chapman Cooper was born September 25, 1936 to the late James and Dora Stanford Chapman in Goldsboro, North Carolina. She was born to a family of two brothers, Johnnie and William and two sisters, Leona, and her dear Eloise. She and Eloise were her father’s only two children, and Elder Cooper’s innocent childhood was short-lived as her mother died from tuberculosis when Lula was almost two and Eloise was about four. Elder Cooper stated that she and her sister were so close because all they had were each other. Eloise was Lula’s protector. The sisters were from home to home or from pillar to post, and this was their life until their brother Johnnie, who was encouraged by his wife, Glennie, came to Norfolk and brought the girls to Delaware in 1945 to live with them and their daughter, Mildred. Elder Cooper began her education in Norfolk, Virginia and continued her education at William C. Jason High School in Georgetown, Delaware. She retired from ConAgra in 1985 after 31 years of service. Elder Cooper stated that her life did not really begin until she got saved although as a child, there was a lady, Miss Ola Jones, who used to take the girls to street services in Norfolk. Bishop Cartwright later told Elder Cooper that her receiving salvation could be the result of Miss Ola’s prayers. “I wouldn’t be able to tell you the whole story, but you got enough to know that this here little girl has been through some things. We were just children that they used to call motherless. So it was just from one thing to another.” Elder Cooper always believed that the Lord had a greater calling in her life. On November 27, 1960, while visiting the church of the late Bishop Clarence Cartwright, a message preached by the late Bishop W.G. Dukes pricked her heart, and she experienced the saving power of Jesus Christ! Being inseparable from her sister, Eloise, Lula wanted her to experience the same joy. She told Eloise, “If you try Him and don’t like Him, trade Him in!” After witnessing to Eloise, she, too, received salvation. Lula and Eloise became the first and second members, respectively, of the late Bishop Cartwright’s church. Elder Cooper took the Word to the streets of Greentop and Lincoln telling people about God’s saving power. Many people, after saying she was crazy, went to church to see what was happening, and they were saved. Elder Cooper wrote, “He took a wretch like me and showed me that he could make something beautiful out my life, and he saved me from sin on Sunday, November 27, 1960.” On December 7, 1960, Lula received the gift of the Holy Ghost. After which, she heard the Lord speak, “When you get baptized, many souls will be saved.” Feeling the urgency of the call, on December 24, 1960, Bishop Cartwright and the late Deacon Dave Hendricks baptized her at Lewes Beach. It was her testimony that when she came up out of the water, she looked up and saw the moon peak from behind the clouds, and she heard the voice of God say, “I am pleased!” At the New Year’s Eve service, December 31, 1960, the words God spoke to her were fulfilled. The altar was full of so many people praying that chairs had to be pulled out to extend the altar. It was under the leadership of Bishop Cartwright that she learned to serve faithfully, even in the midst of adversity both within and outside of the church. She served as the first church secretary, musician, custodian, youth worker, willing worker, Pastor’s Aide President, and was chosen by the Deacon Dave Hendricks to lead the church in the stead of Bishop Cartwright when he became ill. After receiving the call to “Preach the Word”, she was licensed as a Missionary in 1962 and not only did the work of an Evangelist but made full proof of her ministry. On November 10, 1973, Lula married the late Bishop John W. Cooper, and became stepmother to seven children. Her willingness to work would become an evident part of his ministry at Community Pentecostal Church of God. She would fulfill his expectation to “help him build a church both spiritually and naturally”. They began a building fund, and in the year of 1977, Community Pentecostal Church of God moved into a brand new church building debt free. She continued to work with him in the ministry until the Lord called John from labor to reward in 1999. After the passing of her husband, Elder Cooper was installed as Pastor of Community Pentecostal Church of God in April 2000. Under her leadership, the church experienced growth both spiritually and naturally. She often admonished the church to “Follow me as I follow Christ!” Upon God’s leading and instruction, Elder Cooper passed the mantle to her daughter, Elder Joniqua Combs, who was installed as pastor on July 6, 2013. That just goes to show how little I know about leading and controlling my life. All things work together just to make the best of me. My Times are in His Hands Revelation 14:13 reads “And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.” Psalm 116:15 reads “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Elder Cooper was preceded in death by her parents, James and Dora, husband and love of her life, Bishop John W. Cooper, her beloved sister, Eloise, siblings, Leona, Johnnie, and William, and her dear brother-in-law and co-laborer in the gospel, Bishop Joseph P. Cooper, Sr., and his wife, Gloria, and her grandson, Julian DeVonne Combs. Elder Lula Cooper leaves to cherish beautiful memories, her oldest daughter, Carmen Gambles and son-in-law, Leonard, along with their three children, Dion (Laniece), Kimeesha, and Lashon Gambles, her youngest daughter, Joniqua Combs and her husband, Von, along with their three children, Jules, Jewel, and Juliene Combs. Lula often praised God for a second generation of grandchildren at the age of 70. She also leaves her beloved nieces and nephews: Wanda, wife of the late Willie (Pookum), Sharon, Cliff, Wayne, Lenny (Henrietta), LaVerne, and Brian whom she cherished as her children. She also leaves her godchildren, LaVar Downes, Tajah McCove, Sheena Robinson, Charity Shockley, Fred Snowden, her Community Pentecostal Church of God family, a host of family, including nieces, nephews, and cousins spanning five generations, and many, many friends. Her slogan to her church children was “I believe that you all love me, and if you don’t, you got me fooled and I don’t want anyone to tell me anything else.” Elder Cooper gave new meaning to the song Running for Jesus a Long Time, and I’m Not Tired. Some called her Pastor, Elder, Mother, and just plain Sister Lula. She bore the title of daughter, sister, wife, friend, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and we remember her as a Prophet to many, a Pastor after God’s heart, an Elder in the Lord’s church, a Mother in Zion, a Friend and Confidant who loved at all times, and a Mother whose children rose up and called her blessed.