Dr. Arnold Arnie Cooper, Deacon at Original First African Baptist Church, age 72, died December 5th at East Georgia Regional Medical Center. Surviving are his wife Lena Cooper and step-son Sergey Pugachov. Dr. Cooper was born in Philadelphia, PA. He received a B.S. in Education from West Chester University(PA), an M.A. in History from Duke University(N.C.), and M.A. in Educational Administration from Pepperdine University(CA), and a Ph.D. in the History of Education from Iowa State University. An educator for 36 years, he was a student of African American History and his writings were cited along with others as one of the best guides to the ideas of African American educators. Dr. Cooper combined scholarship with action when he served as a Vista Volunteer with the South Carolina Commission for Farm Workers in Charleston, S.C., and the Wesley Foundation at East Carolina University(NC), when he helped develop inner city library resources in Chester, PA., and when he appointed a Program Planner for the Midwest Race Desegregation Center at Kansas State University. As an administrator, he was a dean of the College of Education at Clarion University(PA), and at Georgia Southern University. He was an Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Fayetteville State University(NC), Vice President of Academic Affairs at West Virginia State University, and Department Chair at Lincoln University(MO). Dr. Cooper very much enjoyed the fellowship and the brotherhood at Original First African Baptist Church and other similar churches. Home going service will be Monday December 9th at 2pm at Original First African Baptist Church, West Main Street, Statesboro, Ga., with Pastor Frankie Lee Owens, Sr., officiating. Interment will be held in Bulloch Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Hwy. 80 East, Statesboro, Ga. Viewing will be held Sunday December 8th from 3-8pm at Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, Statesboro Chapel. Craig R. Tremble Funeral Home, Statesboro Chapel are in charge of arrangements.

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