Mary Cooper

Ms. Mary "Valco" Cooper, daughter of the late Handy Grant and Odelsia Cooper, departed this life at 8:07pm on April 28, 2022, at the Heritage Home of Florence, South Carolina. She was born on September 12, 1937, in Marion County.

She became a member of the House of God Keith Dominion Church Pamplico under the leadership of the late State Elder Elijah Green.

From her wit to her sense of humor, she was known for being the Florence News before WBTW. Val never met a stranger. To know her was to love her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Handy Grant, Odelsia Cooper-Bacote, and Vander Bacote; two sisters, Ina Dennis and Pecolia C. Williams; one brother, Willie Bacote; and one daughter, Catherine Grant Robinson.

She leaves fond memories to her daughters, B.J. Swaringer of Lexington Park, Maryland, Rhonda C. Grice of Florence, South Carolina, and Sharon Conner of Winder, Georgia; and two honorary children, Rufus (Ashley) Bratton and Martha (William) Ralston; two sisters: Pearly (John) Keith of Pamplico, South Carolina and Suelene Guiles of Effingham, South Carolina; two brothers: Vander Bacote of Florence, South Carolina and James Marshall Bacote of Lexington, South Carolina; seven grandchildren, Cathy Joe McLaughlin-Spates of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Andre D. Swaringer of Florence, South Carolina, Dennis L. (Valerie) Swaringer. Sr. of Lexington Park, Maryland, Jo Celia (Brian) Cager of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Jaime (Armand) Poole of Winder, Georgia, Mitchell Rondreaus Grice of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jonathan (Lindsay) Conner of Katy, Texas; seventeen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one grand-pup, “Sasha;” and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and special friends.

Please keep the family of Mary "Valco" Cooper in your thoughts and prayers.