Barbara Cooper (1929-2022) *93

was an American politician and a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 86th District. Cooper graduated from Manassas High School, in Memphis, Tennessee. She also graduated from Tennessee State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master's degree in Education. She was a retired Memphis City Schools teacher. Cooper graduated with a Doctorate of Religious Philosophy in Christian psychology, from Jacksonville Theological Seminary, in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1999.

Cooper became involved in Memphis politics, serving as the chair of the African-American People's Organization. They organized a convention that aided W. W. Herenton's election as mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1991 election and encouraged civic engagement with the Shelby County Democratic Party.

In 1994, Cooper ran for the Tennessee House of Representatives in the 90th district, and lost to John DeBerry in the Democratic Party's primary election. Cooper ran for the 86th district seat in the Tennessee House to succeed Rufus E. Jones, who did not run for reelection, in 1996. Cooper won primary election out of nine candidates. She was Vice Chair of the House Government Operations Committee. She served on the House Children and Family Affairs Committee, the House Education Committee, the House Family Justice Subcommittee and the House Higher Education Subcommittee.

Personal life and death

Cooper was born in the New Chicago area in the district of North Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. She was married to John D. Cooper, one of the first Black firemen in the Memphis Fire Department, and they had three children. John Cooper died in 2006.