Birth date: Jun 11, 1933 Death date: Aug 17, 2024
James Donald Cooper Sr, aged 91, of Plant City, Florida, passed away on August 17, 2024. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, James dedicated his life to serving his community and cherishing his family. A proud Navy veteran, James uphe Read Obituary
I offer sincere condolences to the Cooper family. I really miss having breakfast with Mr. Cooper at Plummer's Family Restaurant each morning. It was always a pleasure to be in his presence. GOD Bless his family and friends.
Clayton P. Hamilton "CHIEF"
Jim Cooper changed my life. I met him when I was 14 years old at Perk's Bluegrass. That was 47-and-a-half years ago. Jim came in the store wearing his police uniform one day. When Marilyn Perkins introduced him to me, he reached out to shake my hand. I shook his hand. Jim said, "You shake hands like a girl!" Then he proceeded to teach me about shaking hands. My father had died when I was 11. I had never had to shake hands before then. So I never knew how. Jim saved me from a life of embarrassment and wimpiness.
I enjoyed knowing Jim and watching him play in the Bluegrass Ordeal and then Sawgrass throughout my teenage years and as a young adult. His stage presence was amazing. He didn't have to talk a lot. His body language said much. He always looked like he was confident and he was where he wanted to be.
Hanging around Jim was a great place to pick up on little bits of wisdom here and there. I loved jamming with him. He was always encouraging and always the relaxed and wise sage.
Jim had talked about being a guitar player in the Tampa Police Band back in the good ole days. One day I found an LP record of the Tampa Police band at a garage sale. Sure enough, there was Jim on the back cover, with a guitar, along with 20 or so other policemen. I bought that record, of course, and kept it a long time until I eventually gave it to Jim at his 90th birthday party.
Eventually, I ended up playing in the same band with Jim. Actually, I filled in with Sawgrass once, that was a lot of fun. But then Jim was in the Foothill band with me for a few years in the early 2000s. He was a pleasure to be around. Always had something to say, though sometimes you could barely hear it. Though he was always encouraging, he was not always complimentary. Jim told the truth. I especially appreciate that about him. Jim loved people enough to tell them what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear. Thank God for Jim Cooper!
Thankfully, I was near enough to him to hear lots of wisdom over the years. Jim's comments were not always "politically correct", but they always hit the nail on the head.
At the Sertoma Ranch, where we were playing, I had brought a date with me. Jim was impressed. He whispered to me that I "should keep her." I did. That was twenty years ago now.
I love Jim Cooper. May he rest in peace.
Jim Cooper was probably one of the best men I've ever known. I considered him my best friend however life drew us apart. JD was my supervisor at TPD and was one of the best. I loved playing music with him over the years and he tought me a lot about life in general. God rest his soul and wrap your loving arms around his family in thier time of grief.
I was blessed to have had Jim as my Sergeant to the Tampa Police Department for a short while. He was the best!! Took care of us young over-eager troops and always made us feel important. May God welcome him with open arms and bring peace and comfort to his family.
