SHIRLEY ANN FLEMING COOPER

September 2, 1937–May 30, 2026

Shirley Ann Fleming Cooper, 88, passed away peacefully on 30 May, 2026, after a long and courageous journey with dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.  She was surrounded by her loving family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  

Born in Anderson, South Carolina, the youngest child and only daughter of Nellie Mae Pollard Fleming, and Frank Pierce Fleming, she was predeceased by her beloved parents (from whom she inherited myriad wonderful traits, including tenacity and a get-it-done attitude from her mother and patience and intention from her father), and her two brothers JR (Jake) Fleming and Max A. Fleming, and her dear son Scott.  

Shirley’s life was filled with love, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to support and care for those around her.  She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 70 years, B.V. Cooper.  Their story began on a blind date in 1954, and became a lifelong partnership upon their marriage in August 1956. Together, they created a beautiful family including their daughters Leslie Cooper and Maria Cooper Morrone and husband Joe; son Scott and his wife Julie; granddaughters Stephanie Cooper, Savannah Cooper McCoy and husband Michael, and Anika Morrone; great grandchildren Blake McCoy and Luke McCoy; niece Anne Slough, husband Brett and sons Cooper and Sean; nieces Starr Ivey and Paige Ivey; and nephews Blair Ivey and Paul Ivey.

Shirley knew from a very young age that she would become an educator.  She practiced for this career by playing school with her dolls until she began attending Gluck Mill School in Anderson.  Shirley loved the French language.  In her high school senior year, she won the Anderson city French competition, the Anderson County French competition, and the State of South Carolina competition.

 In 1955 she graduated as class valedictorian from Hanna Girls’ School in Anderson with a full, four-year academic scholarship to Furman University.  After one year there, she chose to leave Furman and her scholarship behind to marry B.V.  and join him as reported for Army duty.  

While raising her young family, Shirley resumed her academic pursuits at Radford College in Radford Virginia, and completed her B.A. in English at the University of Virginia at Wise in Wise, Virginia, while also working as a teacher’s aide.  She graduated with highest honors.  

 She taught high school for many years before returning to school to earn her Master’s Degree in Counseling at Georgia State University, again graduating with highest honors. While she was quite modest, her family feels compelled to note that Shirley made an A in every class she ever took, from first grade through graduate school.  

Shirley dedicated 25 years to the field of public education, teaching English, literature, drama, and journalism at the high school level, as well as working as a guidance counselor for all grades.  Her warmth, kindness, and humor left an indelible mark on her students, many of whom contacted her years- even decades - later to thank her for helping them find and nurture their strengths, as well as helping them navigate personal challenges.  With her unconditional love, acceptance, and encouragement, she gently nudged everyone who met her to be just a bit kinder, to work a bit harder, and to enjoy all the good that life has to offer.  

Her heart was firmly anchored in her family, which she often said was her greatest joy. Shirley had a singular ability to find the good in any situation, which served her well as she raised her three children.  “Well, this is one heck of a mess, but we’ll figure it out together,” was heard fairly frequently during their teen years.  

She also had a way of making even the most mundane of errands and tasks feel like adventures, and long car rides to the orthodontist or mall were usually rolling song fests, with top-of-the-lungs singing along with whatever was on the radio, often complemented with interesting impromptu side trips.   

In their earlier years the family moved several times, and each time, Shirley set up their new home in record time, helping her family feel comfortable and settled, making their new rooms special and cozy.  She ventured out, full of courage, curiosity, and optimism, to discover their new towns and to find their way in each new chapter of their lives – including taking three young children on the Long Island Railroad from their home on Long Island into New York City, and exploring all the boroughs on foot and by taxi.  As she explained it to B.V., “Honey, nobody’s going to bother a woman with three kids in tow.”

As well as traveling the world during their many years together, Shirley and B.V. learned to sail, graduating from the U.S Sailing School.  She was a confident and competent captain, and they spent many years sailing their ocean-going sailboat in various waters, hosting family and friends aboard for memorable celebrations and relaxing weekends.  

Life was an adventure for Shirley, and she was eagerly up for just about any experience that presented itself to her – flying into the Alaskan wilderness on a small float plane, convincing B.V. to dive on a small submarine in Barbados, and more.  She once went to a Grateful Dead show, and partway through it commented through the slightly illegal smoke, “Jerry’s actually really cute, isn’t he?” (Sorry, B.V.) 

While Shirley was dedicated to her family, she also made time to volunteer throughout her life, supporting countless organizations and groups, and perhaps even more importantly, she quietly served a multitude of people, many of them students, who had come upon challenging circumstances.  She never wanted or needed recognition for these acts of kindness or her gifts of compassion, time, and resources; she simply wanted to do all she could to help make life better for those around her. 

She enjoyed playing word games, was an avid reader, a bird watcher, and a devoted animal lover.  She warmly welcomed countless domesticated and wild critters who came into the family through the years– including cats, dogs, fish, turtles, mice, possums, deer, foxes, and several raccoons and their offspring.  Shirley also found great joy in hosting gatherings, large and small, for loved ones, and was known by a select few for her stellar Strawberry Pop Tart preparation, as well as for her ability to make every occasion special and memorable. 

She was a lifelong learner and read voraciously for as long as she was able.  Later, she enjoyed being read to, stopping to ask about words, and telling the reader to look up any particularly interesting words they came across.  

Shirley had a bright and kind sense of humor, and could sooth the saddest and deepest pain with her gentle kindness.  Her voice was beautiful and sweet. It calmed everyone around her.  This included one particularly distressed and uniquely vocal cat, whom she comforted and quieted by softly speaking French on long car rides to the vet.  

Shirley’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the incredible staff of Charles House Center for Community Eldercare and its Winmore House, as well as the Amedisys Hospice Care team, for their compassion, expertise, and professionalism during Shirley’s later months.

Those who had the privilege of knowing Shirley will remember her as generous, compassionate, and loyal.  Her sweet nature, intelligence, fairness, sense of wonder, and remarkable strength were qualities that endeared her to all who crossed her path.  Shirley’s legacy of love, kindness, and capacity for joy will forever remain in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her.  To honor and remember Shirley, simply be kind and keep learning.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Charles House Association (https://charleshouse.org/donate/), a dementia or Parkinson’s organization, an animal rescue/welfare organization, and/or any other group that truly works to make the world a better place.