On the 3rd of November 1911, (1) Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. (my maternal grandfather) was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia to (2) Richard Thomas Cooper (31yo) and (3) Pearl Estelle Ham (29yo). He was the youngest of 3 brothers. His older brothers were Richard Hanson Cooper (b. 1906) and John Earl Cooper (b. 1907).
Pauline "Polly" McClanahan (my maternal grandmother) was born on 19 Mar 1916 in Jasper, Marion County, Tennessee. Her parents were George Alexander McClanahan and Leona Alton. Her mother, Leona, was a recognized member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, through her mother's lineage.
Pauline was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She loved to cook and care for her family. She also worked at Channin’s clothing store and KMart.
Her father was a coal miner, farmer, and carpenter. Her brother's were known to call her "Polly."
Virgil E. Cooper, Sr. had a difficult childhood, growing up in a home with an alcoholic father, who died when he was just 19. His oldest brother was in and out of trouble with the law, so Virgil took on a lot of responsibility at a young age. From all accounts, he was a strong man, who always provided for his family. According to his daughter, Peggy, “we were poor, but did not know it.”
His primary occupations were as a fireman at Robins Air Force Base and a jewelry salesman for Friedman’s Jewelers. For many years, he worked both jobs at the same time. As a jewelry salesman, he would often sell the jewelry out of the back of his car in the minority neighborhoods of Macon and Forsyth.
He was a Freemason and a member of the Optimist Club of Macon. He loved to fish, dance, gamble, smoke cigars, and watch baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves.
By the age of 4, Virgil Sr. and his family had moved to downtown Macon, GA where they lived on Pine Street, Walnut street, and then at 2333 Second Street.
In 1931, at the age of 19, his father dies. In 1932, he graduated from Miller Lanier High School where he was in the ROTC program and played basketball and volleyball. A quote in his senior yearbook says, “He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart.” It is not known why Virgil graduated at the late age of 20. Perhaps he got setback or had to drop out for some time to work.
In August of 1932, Virgil’s brother, Richard “Dick” Cooper, and another man, committed an armed robbery in downtown Macon. They picked up a friend of Richard’s, who worked for the Broadway Trading Company and forced him at gun point to open the companies safe. They stole $800. They then dropped off the victim in the case and drove to Richard’s house at 2333 Second Street. Once there, they picked up Richard’s younger brother, Virgil (20yo). The three of them drove to Atlanta, where Richard gave Virgil $26 to give to his mother, Pearl, and sent Virgil back home in the car.
Virgil returns home around 5:30am and the police show up around 7:30am. They questioned him and, at first, he gave them a story that they did not believe. They put him in the stockade, but “under strenuous questioning Virgil Cooper broke down and made a statement.” The police did not think that Virgil had anything to do with the initial crime, so they released him.
Richard and the other man involved in the crime were eventually caught, but I could not find any details on their sentences. But it is known that Richard spent some time in prison, perhaps it was for this offense. (I have posted some of the newspaper articles about this incident below).
A year or so later, he marries Pauline McClanahan and soon after they have their first child, Shirley Ann Cooper (b. 1934).
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| Pauline (McClanahan) Cooper |
As a couple, they enjoyed going out dancing on Saturday nights.
In the 1940 census, Virgil, Pauline, and Shirley are living at 2333 Second street in Macon, GA. Virgil’s mother, Pearl, is listed as the head of the household. They are also sharing this house with Pearl’s parents, John Earl Ham and Genevieve Ham. They are also sharing the house with Virgil’s cousin Jessie E. Pitts, whose parents had recently died in a car accident. According to the census, Virgil is a clerk at a Jewelry store, worked 59 hours the previous week, is a wage worker, worked 52 weeks in 1939, and made 900 that year (approximately $17,000 in 2020).
Virgil, Jr. remembers accompanying his father on Saturday mornings to the Douglas Theater in Downtown Macon to sell his jewelry. The Douglas Theater was the premier movie theater for African-Americans. Virgil, Jr. remembers eating soft serve ice cream and watching movies, while his father conducted business. Later in life, Virgil, Jr. would contribute to the remodeling and reopening effort of the Douglas Theater. In exchange for this, he has two chairs sponsored by him, where he used to sit, as boy.
Virgil, Jr. also remembers his father traveling on Mondays to Forsyth, GA to sell his jewelry. He knows a woman there that remembers her parents buying her a watch from Virgil, Sr. when she was a child. He also remembers Virgil, Sr. selling to the waiters and cooking staff at the The Elks Lodge.
His children remember him having 3x5 index cards and a pen in the front pocket of his shirt. On these cards, he would keep track of money owed to him by his customers. His daughter, Kay, remembered people coming to the door and giving him money and him making notes on the cards. Perhaps this was tied to his work as a jewelry salesman or perhaps he was simply making small loans as a sort of low level loan shark.
Virgil was a tall man and had a commanding presence, but was very soft spoken and kind to everyone he met. His son, Virgil, Jr., remembers that he never met anyone that would not be a friend a few minutes later. He was very gregarious and loved socializing.
On the 2nd of October 1942, they have their second daughter, Peggy Louise Cooper.
On the 25th of January 1945, he enlisted in the US Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta.
He was discharged on 9 Nov 1945 from Fort Ord, Monterey California. His military unit at the time of discharge was Private Army Ground Forces Replacement. His place of birth is listed as Vidalia, GA.
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| Shirley, Peggy, Pauline, and Virgil |
On the 30th of August 1946, Virgil and Pauline had their first son, Virgil Edward Cooper, Jr.
On the 28th of November 1948, Virgil and Pauline had their 3rd daughter, Sharon Kay Cooper.
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| Peggy, Kay, Pauline, Virgil Jr. |
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| Virgil Jr., Pauline, Virgil Sr., Kay |
In 1952, the city directory lists Virgil as a jewelry salesman for Friedman's Jewelers and says that he and Pauline live at h2359 Second Street. Virgil’s mother, Pearl E, widow of Richard T, is also listed at r2359. Virgil’s brother, J Earl Cooper, and his wife, Irene, are also listed at h2359.
On the 11th of November 1956, Kay Rauscher bumped into an open flame radiator causing her clothing to catch on fire. Pauline put out the fire with her hands and suffered third degree burns. Both survived, but suffered painful recoveries.
Virgil worked two jobs for most of his life. He worked as a jewelry salesman for Friedman’s Jewelers and as a civilian fireman at the Robin’s Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga. Below is an article about him being recognized for 20 years of service at Robins.
After retirement, he spent his time fishing, watching baseball, and volunteering his time with the Optimist Club of Macon.
He was always an avid fisherman. His daughter, Kay, remembered that they would often take family holidays to fishing camps so that he could fish. I, his grandson Clint, remember him sitting at the end of the dock at Lake Sinclair all day fishing. I would sit with him, but would get bored and wonder off. He would just sit there for hours almost in a state of zen.
I also remember him taking me to minor league baseball games and sitting in his den watching the Atlanta Brave’s play baseball, drinking pepsi from the bottle, while he smoked his cigars.
He was also an avid gambler and card player. His children remember him coming home late at night happy with money coming out of his pockets and stuck in his hat.
He would also volunteer his time to the Optimist Club of Macon. He would visit people in the hospital, as a red coat, bringing the patients newspapers and candies. Virgil also worked at events to raise money for the organizations he was a member of. In the late 70s and early 80s, I remember him taking me to wrestling matches at the Macon Coliseum. I would watch the matches while he worked the door or concession stands.
In 1978, his brother, Richard Hanson Cooper, and his mother, Pearl Estelle Cooper, died.
In 1983, Virgil and Pauline celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Macon, GA.
In 1984, his brother, John Earl Cooper, died.
In 1986, Pauline, died of lung cancer. She is buried in Macon Memorial Park (section U lot 445).
On the 29th of January 1998, Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. died in Macon, Ga at the age of 86 years old. He is buried at Macon Memorial park (section U lot 445).
Virgil Edward Cooper, Sr. and Pauline McClanahan Cooper:
- Shirley Ann m. DeWitt Byrd
- Cathy
- Vicky
- Julie
- Timothy
- Kim
- Peggy Louise m. William Cox
- Virgil Edward Cooper, Jr.
- Virgil Edward Cooper, III
- Sharon Kay m. Arthur Franklin Rauscher
- Arthur Clinton Rauscher
Virgil’s daughter, Kay, remembered her father teaching her to drive. She said her mother would be in the backseat being nervous wreak, while her father was calmly sitting next to her saying, “Pauline, she is doing just fine.”
Pauline’s daughter, Peggy, remembers her mother getting angry with her one time. Peggy came home and saw some meat cooking in a pot on the stove. She thought it looked lumpy, so she mashed all of the meat up. Her mother came in and it turns out that she had been making small meatballs all afternoon and those meatballs were the “lumps” of meat in that pot cooking.
Virgil's great-granddaughter, Jennifer, remembers him taking her to the S&S Cafeteria and then to the Macon Mall to sit and people watch.
Along with his two jobs, he would also drive his mother, Pearl, around to sell Watkins products. Watkins products were extracts, salves, and seasonings. In the 1940s, they were the largest direct-sales company in the world.
Videos:
Photographs:
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| Daughter, Kay |
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| Pauline and Daughter Kay in her garden |
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| Misty, Pauline, Virgil, Sr. Christmas 1968 |
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| Grandson Clint, and Pauline (mid-1970s) |
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| Shirley, Virgil Sr., Pauline, Peggy, Kay, and Virgil Jr. |
