Mattie P. Cooper

Mattie P. Cooper, former owner of Marathon Gas Station in Cleveland, entrepreneur, community leader and activist; beloved mother of Cecilia Cooper-Hardy, Kim Thomas & Mitchelle Cooper, George Cooper (deceased) and Dennis Cooper (deceased), loving grandmother, great grandmother & dear sister, loved by a host of family & friends. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 22nd  at LUCAS MEMORIAL CHAPEL 9010 Garfield Blvd. in Garfield Hts. where family will receive friends one-half hour prior to service. (Limited Guest,  Facial Mask and Social Distancing is Recommended) Live Streaming will be available. Interment Cleveland Memorial Gardens.

VISITATION: Friday, August 21st from 5:00-7:00pm at Lucas Memorial Chapel

Legend, Community Leader, and Entrepreneur Mattie Cooper was born in Foley, Florida, on July 15, 1942, and passed away at the age of 78, on August 11, 2020. She was born to the late John Williams of Trinidad, Tobago, and Rachel Howell of Akron, Ohio. Mattie grew up in Akron and graduated from Akron High School. Later, she married George Leonard Cooper, and together they had five wonderful children: Dennis Williams, George Leonard Cooper Jr, Cecilia Cooper-Hardy, Kim Cooper-Thomas and Mitchelle Cooper. Professionally, Mattie started her working career as a switchboard operator at the Carnegie Hotel, which was a landmark in Cleveland, Ohio. Following that she was employed by Mr. Coffee for 15 years. After years of working for others, Mattie achieved the goal of owning her own business. She became one of the first minority-owned franchises of a Marathon gas station. Throughout her lifetime, Mattie showed love. The community loved her, and she loved it back. And with that love Mattie helped to transform lives. She was well-known as the person to whom you could turn to for anything. Everyone knew that she would "get the job done!" And if she could not help you herself, then she could surely point you in the right direction for the help you needed. Mattie was great at directing individuals to necessary resources. So, if community members had concerns that she could not solve, she would call her councilman and demand immediate action. Mattie made sure she held elected leaders accountable to the people who elected them. She was never satisfied with seeing people merely survive in this world. Mattie's overarching goal was to see her community thrive. In this way, and many more, Mattie dedicated her life to community service. In her special way, Mattie helped to knit together a beloved community by sewing a little love into the lives of each of the people she was blessed to meet. Not afraid of hard work or sacrifice, Mattie was quick to roll up her own sleeves and would also give you the shirt off of her back. She chose to labor in one of the hardest vineyards, foster parenting. Mattie fostered many children in the community and became affectionately known as "Mom" and "Grandma" to many. Mattie loved family. And if you did not have one, you became a part of hers. After retiring as a business owner, Mattie spent her time with family and friends. She loved to cook. And she was good at it! Mattie knew the secret to good cooking, she knew that cooking was a way to the soul. Her home and kitchen were always open to the community. As part of her legacy, if you needed a hot meal, clean clothes, or good advice, Mattie's home was the place to come. She would always say, “Don’t ask me, if you don’t want the truth!” Mattie served up the hard truth in her kitchen, but always with a side of tough love. She was very outspoken and unapologetic with her words. Mattie possessed the hard, exterior shell of a turtle on the outside, but she was one of the kindest, softest persons on the inside. Mattie, the matriarch, will be greatly missed by all whose lives were touched by her generous spirit. Mattie was preceded in her passing by her husband, George Leonard Cooper, son, George Leonard Cooper Jr. son, Dennis Williams, her brothers, John Howell (Florida) and Johnny Lee Argo Williams, her sisters, Rachel Jackson and Betty Jean. She is survived by her daughters Cecilia Cooper- Hardy, Kim Cooper - Thomas and Mitchelle Cooper. As well as her sisters, Jannie Williams (Chicago), Rebecca Hurd-Hope, her godson, Johnny Brown and her longtime friend, Marie Buggs. She leaves behind her grandchildren, Janina Mcgee, Christopher King III, Amira Thomas, Devin Cooper, Quiana Cooper, Quida Cooper, Quinida Cooper, Quinisha Cooper, George Cooper III and a host of great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to Hospice of the Western Reserve. We greatly appreciate all you did throughout this difficult time.