OBITUARY: Charlene ‘Nene’ Cooper

Charlene “Nene” Cooper joined our Lord and Savior on the 13th of May 2024 after being surrounded by her loved ones.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Cooper; siblings Betty Hilldebrand, Nell Davidson, and Judy (Garland) Lovell; son Greg (Amy) Cooper; grandchildren Tori (Miles) Emery, Jordan (Cory) Lauer, and Faith Burgess; and great-granddaughter Rylee Lauer.

She is welcomed in Heaven by her parents James P. and Gladys Davidson; siblings Jimmy Davidson, Barbara Ann Ivy, and Richard Davidson; and her only daughter, who she loved and cared for very much, Christi Cooper Burgess.

Charlene was born on August 25, 1942 in Cleveland, Georgia—where she grew up. She was one of seven children to her parents James and Gladys.

There in White County, she met William (Bill) Cooper in the eighth grade. She went on to marry Bill and spent the rest of her life with him. At White County High School, she was a cheerleader, junior class president, and beauty queen, earning the title “Miss White County.” While in school, she helped her father with hand setting for the Cleveland Courier newspaper.

After high school, she attended Brenau University and Truett McConnell. Charlene and Bill were married in 1961 in Cleveland, GA, surrounded by their friends and families. Throughout their marriage, they briefly lived in Atlanta, GA, Palatka, FL, and Hartlepool, England. They moved to Nashville in 1966 and lived there until 1974, when they moved to Mt. Juliet, TN and remained for the rest of Charlene’s days.

Charlene had many hobbies and passions. She was an avid tennis player and enjoyed her time with friends at Ravenwood Club. Charlene also cherished weekly Tuesday gatherings at Wendy’s with her group of friends—“The Golden Girls,” as they coined themselves. She also enjoyed shopping trips with her granddaughters.

She loved cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers in her Tennessee orange and going to football games in Knoxville. However, she would occasionally trade the orange for Razorback red to support her eldest granddaughter, Tori. She loved to spoil her grandchildren, and toward the end of her life, her great-granddaughter.

Charlene took joy in being a nurturer for anybody in need. She volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House for numerous years, supported local charities and events, including MJ4Hope, and cared for her daughter, Christi, during her extended chronic illness.

After her daughter passed away in 2020, Charlene was a stronghold for the family. She became more of a mother figure to her two granddaughters, Jordan and Faith, and showed up for any and all events in their lives.

Charlene would tell you her greatest joy on earth was becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother. Her face would light up when asked about any of her family. Charlene was a Godly woman and lived her life serving the Lord.

In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to MJ4Hope in her memory. www.mj4hope.org

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