A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and honor the Reverend Doctor James S. Cooper, Presiding Elder of the Sumter District Northeast Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives has learned that the Reverend Doctor James S. Cooper will begin a well-deserved retirement after years as a minister of the Gospel, the last of which have been as the highly regarded presiding elder of the Sumter District Northeast Conference; and

 

Whereas, born in Millhaven, Georgia, on September 26, 1947, he received his secondary education in the Savannah public school system. He began preaching at the age of thirteen and was ordained an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) in 1963 in Douglas, Georgia; and

 

Whereas, Reverend Cooper earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and religion from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia; a Master of Divinity in psychology and pastoral care from Interdenominational Theological Center & Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta; a master's degree in religious education from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey; a master's degree in military science from the Command General Staff College; and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California; and

 

Whereas, in 1973, he received a commission as a Captain in the United States Army Chaplain Corps, and during his military career, he received numerous military accolades for his service, including the Legion of Merit, the highest peace time award; the Meritorious Service Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters; the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Army Achievement Medal (1); and the National Defense Service Medal (2).  He is also a recipient of the Honorable Order of Saint Michael and is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm; and

 

Whereas, after serving as the garrison chaplain at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the largest installation in the United States Army, Chaplain Cooper retired from active service with the rank of Colonel after thirty-one years of service to God and country in 2003; and

 

Whereas, the editor for "The Voice of Missions," a quarterly magazine of the AME missions around the world, he has written hundreds of articles and published two books, Favorite Hymns for Gospel Services at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1979 and The Ten Commandments: Ten sermons for everyday people in 2010. An ordained minister in the AME Church, he is a member of the Military Chaplains Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and Western Star Lodge #65 F&M Prince Hall Masonry. He is a life member of the NAACP and of the Morris Brown College National Alumni Association; and

 

Whereas, together with his wife, the former Mirriam L. Roberts, he reared three fine children: Lenton Douglas, James Simon II, and Annette Evelyn Etheredge. His children blessed him with the affection of ten loving grandchildren: Shakita Lashaun, Lenton II, James III, Daniel Charles Etheredge, Cameron Alexander, Kaelyn Marie Etheredge, Jamia Kaloni Simone, twins Nina Sloane and Ashton Michael, and Laila Yvonne Etheredge, as well as one great-granddaughter, Z'aviah Winter Watkins; and

 

Whereas, grateful for his many years of distinguished service, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives take great pleasure in extending best wishes to Reverend James Cooper as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Reverend Doctor James S. Cooper, Presiding Elder of the Sumter District Northeast Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, upon the occasion of his retirement after years of exemplary service, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Doctor James S. Cooper.

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