JACKIE COOPER

Celebrating the Life of
Mr. Jackie Cooper

June 8, 1951 – July 5, 2026

“Music. That’s all. That’s everything.”

We lovingly celebrate the Life of Mr. Jackie Cooper, age 75, of Chicago Heights, Illinois, who put on his silk robe, leather slippers and made the Coolest of transitions to the Mothership on July 5th, 2026.

Born June 8, 1951, in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Jackie walked the earth with an outlandish superhero soundtrack playing in his ears (and it was anybody’s guess where the needle landed –Billie, George, Djavan, KISS, War, Lauren, The O’Jays and then some!). Everything was filtered through song structure, form, tone, and style and it was pure magic. A gifted horn player and musician, he brought funk, soul, and joy to every stage he stepped onto and to every room he entered. Whether it was Live or Memorex, Jackie had the ability to find beauty in the most unusual and explicitly musical places, and he shared it with everyone.

Jackie was a man of few words. A straight talker who advised his children to “never say you’re sorry. Take your time and think before you speak or act, and there will be nothing to say you’re sorry for.” He said it, and he lived it.

Jackie was a father, friend, husband, cousin, uncle and brother to many, regardless of family origin. Family was important and he reminded all of us of that through actions, not words. He was known as Blackjack, Black Jackie, Slacks, Fat-Fat, Daddy-Pop, Coodi Poppington, and World-Wide-South Side-Jack-O-Rama and many other affectionate monikers, which he earned loving and teaching every chance he got, but no matter what…He Was Always Cool!

Jackie was preceded in death by his mother, Lorene, father, Elbert, brothers - Elbert Jr. , Elbert Jr. II, Alvin, Tolo Naa, Calvin, Freddie, Kenny and sisters – Ernestine and Elsie and genuinely pouted regarding being left back here to dance by himself, but he fully intends to make up for lost time now that they are reunited.
 

He leaves to cherish his memory Karen Copeland, Tmbasii Bowden (Desary), Marcus Copeland (Alycia), Adzoa Puckett (Franklin), Jamilah Cooper, Sherry Herring (Jermaine), Aminah Cooper-Bowden, Kaiyla Cooper, Andrea Billups-Caldwell (Albert), Courtney Hollis (Ian) and the Grand-Dudes - Adrean (AJ), Kylen (aka Grand Dudest), Aislyn, Justin, Saerai, Kennedy, Taylor, James, DeAngelo (aka Big Grand Dude Wit Da Beats), Morgan, Lawrence (aka Black Gi-Ant!), Raven, Jade,Trinity (aka Try-Nitty), Tabetha, Kristofor, Nichole, Franklin III, Angenette, Ania, Austin,Tyahri (aka Hey- Ty), Tristan (aka Lil Boy), and Zuri (aka Zu-Zu - Da Littlest Baby Now), extended family and beloved friends.
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Acknowledgment:

True to his wishes, his life will be honored, not with mourning but with music. A real celebration of life will be held on August 8th, 2026, at Willard Wood Park Center, Crete, Illinois.

Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and remember Elbert and Lorene’s baby boy.

In his honor - “Dance (in lieu of flowers), because I said so! Pow!” God Bless you all.

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