Jackie Ferrel Cooper,89, of Tifton, Georgia, passed away at the home of his daughter in Tallahassee, on May 18, 2026.
He was born in Glenwood, Georgia, on October 26, 1936, to Grace Cooper Varnadoe and James Clinton Cooper, both of whom preceded him in death. Jackie was preceded in death by an infant sister as well as sisters Doris Selph, Eloise Oliver, Louise Walker, and Bobbie Walker.
Jackie graduated from Tift County High School in 1956 and joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1958. He owned and operated several successful businesses, only retiring after he sold Southern Air Distribution in 2007.
Always a supporter of his community, Jackie was a volunteer fireman and was trained and served as a volunteer with the Tift County EMS. He was also a member of First Baptist Church of Tifton.
Jackie was a skilled craftsman, completing projects at home with meticulous attention to skill and detail. He lovingly taught his grandsons and nephews this same attention to detail. He will be remembered by them as a loving Poppy and Uncle Jackie.
He had a passion for the outdoors and wildlife and spent much of his childhood communing with nature. Throughout his life, Jackie patiently rescued and rehabilitated countless numbers of abandoned or injured creatures. This same patience was evident in every aspect of his life. In his final years, he was most happy surrounded by his family at his home at Lake Blackshear.
Jackie married Marolyn Davidson Cooper on March 19, 1961, and they were together for forty-eight wonderful years. He cared for Marolyn, or as he called her, “the love of his life,” with patience and love until her death in 2009. His daughters, Kelly and Keetra, followed his example of selfless care and devotion with their father in his final years.
Jackie is survived by his two daughters; Keetra Cooper Branch and Kelly Cooper Kearney (Chris); three grandchildren; Alexander Kearney (Kasey) of Tampa, Ryan Kearney (Brooke) of Tallahassee, and James Curtis Branch IV of Tifton; three great-grandchildren, Henry and Alice Kearney and Blakeleigh Kearney; and one sister Rhonda Varnadoe White.
A memorial service will be held Friday, July 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Paul Fowler officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.