Mrs. Ethel M. Cooper was born on February 28, 1938 in Grenada, Mississippi to the late Nathaniel and Mary L. Drinkwater. She departed this earth life on February 18, 2021 at her home. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and later in life was a member of Saint Matthew United Methodist Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She found the love of her life, Isiah Cooper, Sr., who were joined in holy matrimony for over 60 years, to the time of his death. They were husband and wife as well as best friends. Upon moving to Sumter, Ethel for the last 12 years of her life was a member of New Fellowship Covenant Ministries, Inc. Ethel Cooper, who was the Mother of New Fellowship Covenant Ministries, enjoyed fishing with her husband and brother, George. She enjoyed cooking, teaching and passing on recipes to her grandchildren how to ensure that everyone was full. She loved to go thrift shopping or what she called going to rummage sales. Mom was a quite person, but would engage in humorous conversations that made everyone laugh. She enjoyed the Word of God, especially when it was being preached by her granddaughter, Minister Victoria or her daughter, Elder Gwen Parker. Once her health started to fail, her spiritual fulfillment came from the NFC Bible Study conference line every Wednesday evening. Ethel had an excellent work ethic. Mom worked most of her life as a housekeeper, machine operator at the Wonder Bread Bakery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a machine operator at Brach’s Candy Factory in Davenport, Iowa until her retirement. After retirement, Ethel and her husband decided to leave the snow an move to Sumter. Ethel leaves to cherish in her memory: two daughters, Elder Gwendolyn (Israel) Parker of Sumter, Crystal (Jeff) Kane of Las Vegas, NV; two brothers, George Drinkwater of Milwaukee, WI and A. C. Drinkwater of Grenada MS; two sisters, Mary Ann (Walter) Harbin and Cordia Sue Drinkwater, both of Grenada, MS; one aunt, Lucy Harris; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Watson of Milwaukee, WS; three grandchildren, Minister Victorica K. Parker, Michael Cooper and Anthony Cooper, Sr.; one god-daughter, Nicole (Pastor Leonzo) Lynch of Charlotte, N. C.; four great grandchildren, Arianna N. Parker, Anthony Cooper, Jr., Christopher J. Parker-Sibley, Isiah Maurice Cooker Aka Little Ike and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins ,and friends. In accordance with the COV19 guidelines, the family is requesting no visitations at the home. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, February 23, 2021 – 12:00 noon. in the John Wesley Williams, Sr. Memorial Chapel of Williams Funeral Home, Inc., 821 North Main Street, Sumter, with the Rev. Kenneth Isaac, officiating. The procession will leave from the home at 11:20 a. m. Burial will be in the Robinson Cemetery, Sumter.
Condolence Messages
Leave Your Condolence
Please feel free to sign the Guest Register and forward your condolences to friends and family members who have suffered a loss. Please enter your words of remembrance in the space provided. You may select whether you wish for us to deliver them to the family, display them online or both. Please note that Williams Funeral Home, Inc. will review all messages before they are published on the world-wide web or forwarded to family members. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. Thank-you.