Marshall Edward Cooper

Marshall Edward Cooper passed away, at home, on May 10, 2026. He was born on April 7, 1946 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to George Edward Cooper of Rocky Mount, Virginia and Mildred Martin Cooper of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, both deceased. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia.

Marshall graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1964 and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia in 1968 and was a member of the cadet corps. Upon graduation from Virginia Tech, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was deployed to West Germany with the Army Air Defense. He received the honor of being inducted into the 50 years of being a Virginia Tech graduate.

Upon moving to Greenville, South Carolina, he served in the Army Reserves achieving the rank of Captain, then retired.

He married his high school sweetheart, Judith Rollings Cooper. They were married for 57 years, and remained best friends. They had two children, William Carey Cooper, born in Germany, of Babcock Center and Susan Cooper Madden (Paul) of Nashville, Tennessee. One granddaughter, Emily Anne Madden, of Nashville, Tennessee, a sister, Anne Cooper Godwin (Grover), two nephews, Tyler and Drew and a niece, Peyton, of Raleigh, North Carolina, brother-in-law, John D. Rolling (Beverly), nephew, Hunter, and niece, Blair Jackson of Richmond, Virginia.

He worked for Seaboard Coastline Railroad, and many companies that built and repaired railroad cars, tracks and signals for crossings. 

Throughout the years he and his family lived in many states. Virginia, Texas, Germany, Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan, Georgia, Virginia, and back to South Carolina.

He loved playing tennis, and made many friends throughout the years of enjoying the sport. He cheered for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where his daughter and son in law, both graduated, but he will always be a Hokie.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, and open arms Sunday School class in Columbia South Carolina. We are thankful to those who supported us. 

He dealt with MAC lung disease, and pulmonary fibrosis. We are very grateful to the doctors, and nurses of Lexington Medical Center and MUSC here in Columbia, and in Charleston who helped us navigate this disease. We are thankful to the nurses of Crescent Hospice who provided the care and support at this time.

Marshall was a good man, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be missed by all who knew him.