James Garland "Jim" Cooper

Whether at a rock quarry, the YMCA pool, the Florida Springs, or a Caribbean island, if you ever came across a very big man in a wetsuit making someone laugh it was most likely Jim Cooper….. James Garland Cooper passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020. Born on March 24, 1944 to Elizabeth "Bookie" and Jesse James Cooper in Newport News, Virginia. He was raised in Tidewater Virginia mostly by a strong working single Mother whom he loved, respected and cared for until the day she died. It was because of her love and devotion that he grew into the fun-loving man with a personality larger than life and a heart of gold. Jim was a 1962 graduate of Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia. After graduation he joined the US Army and served his country in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was deployed to the Dominican Republic during the US Military Intervention-Operation Power Pack. He was a proud veteran and in a letter to his Mother while deployed told her "I thank God that I was fortunate to be brought up in a good home and a good country". Jim first became part of the Asheboro community as President of Asheboro Business Machines, Inc. He served on the board of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce helping to promote small business. He was a past president of the Randolph Shrine Club, Exalted Ruler of the Asheboro Elks Lodge and a member of Asheboro Masonic Lodge #699. He supported office machine dealers as President and Vice President of the Southeastern Regional Office Machine Dealers Association. He turned his life long hobby into his business, and for 18 years like a King of Divers held court at J Coopers Scuba Center on Cox Street. Here he welcomed divers or anyone, to stop by and pay homage to his underwater world or just visit. Jim recorded 1081 dives of his own. What is not on record are the hundreds of divers he trained and certified, how many tanks he filled, how many dive trips he organized and led, how many meals and margaritas he enjoyed on these trips surrounded by his dive group who came to be known as Coopers Troopers. Raise a glass to his memory! Jim was preceded in death by his mother Bookie Lewis, step father Morris Lewis, father Jesse Cooper, and his beloved son James Brian Cooper, who like his father served his county in the 3rd US Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard" in Washington, DC, and was a first responder at the Pentagon on 9/11. Left to cherish memories are Jim's wife of 30 years, Patty, his beautiful daughter, Jamie and her husband Trick Price. The cool and crazy grand kids, Mia, Erin, Sydney, Cooper, Christopher, and Megan. The mother of his children, Becky Cooper. All of the Freeman in-laws, Phil & Lurline, Brenda & Owen, Mike & Karen, Susan and all the kids that branch from the family tree. They love their Uncle Jim. The family thanks the true heroes at Clapps Nursing Home in Asheboro for the care and love they showed to Jim when family and friends could not be present. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 17, 2020, Big Oak Christian Church Cemetery, 3627 Bensalem Church Road, Biscoe, NC 27209. "These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." Psalm 107:24 In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make contributions to the Randolph County Honor Guard or adopt an endangered manatee through Save the Manatee Club, 500 N. Maitland Ave, Ste. 210, Maitland FL 32751 and www.savethemanatee.org.