Obituary for Mary Louise Cooley (Griffin)
Sis Mary Louise Griffin Cooley known as MuDear, Mu, Gramme and to some Mrs. Cooley. She was born to the union of Dan Henry Griffin and Louise Kirksey in Columbus, Mississippi on, April 25, 1929. During her childhood years she came to live with her aunt, Joe Ella Turpin, in Whistler, Alabama. She was in the first graduating class of Central High School. She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel Cooley, Sr., of 57 years of marriage, by her brothers William Alexander, Clarence Kirksey, Marvin Griffin, Dan Henry Griffin, Jr., sisters Vera Louise Moore, Virginia B. McGowan, Mary and Mattie Taylor, son Ray Ellis Turner, son-in-law Keith Griffin and grandson Darryl Jackson.
During Sister Cooley early years as a young adult, she joined the Third Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend B. J. Parker. Sister Cooley served in many capacities of the church; Sunday School Secretary, Senior Usher Board #1 under the leadership of Genevie Smith and she was also one of the cooks for Third Missionary Baptist Church. She was employee of the Public School System and USA Medical Hospital as a cook. Sister Cooley was a faithful member of Third Missionary Baptist Church until her health began to fail.
For a listening ear to some and those who knew sister Cooley was a pioneer and a Civil Rights worker. She believed in equal rights for the people of her community (Whistler, AL and Mobile County); she was the secretary for John L. LeFlore of the Non-Partisan Voters League, campaigned for the first black mayor of Prichard, Alabama, Mayor A. J. Cooper, campaigned for Senator Howard Heflin, Tom Purvis, Michael Figures and the list goes on and on. Sister Cooley was also a member of the Improve Benevolent Protective Order Elk of the World where she served as Daughter Ruler of Gulf City Lodge and a member of the Chateau Social Club
Sister Cooley will be sadly missed by her family and friends that new her as MuDear; children, Alfred J. Griffin, Detroit, Michigan, Denise (Calvin) Knight, Daniel (Dianne)Cooley, Daniel C. (Irma) Jackson, Eight Mile, Alabama, Rosemary Hall and Fannie L. Griffin, Dawes, Alabama; grandchildren, Arthur (Kristina) Griffin, Kansas City, Missouri Tasha(Todd) Jeffries, Tennessee, Mary (William)Barry, Dauphin Island Pkwy, Ashley (Gerrell) Stallworth, Semmes, Alabama, Bobbie D. Griffin, Dawes, Alabama, Tony (Sorina) Fitchard, Huntsville, Alabama, Daniel (Marsha) Jackson, Eight Mile, Alabama, Matthew and Samantha Jackson, Eight Mile, Alabama, Antoinette Griffin, Detroit, Michigan, Tya (Henry) Mosley, Jackson, Mississippi, Zion Knight and Ruben Johnson, Mobile, Alabama. Eleven (11) great grandchildren; Thirteen (13) great, great grandchildren. Also, will be sadly missed by her sister Marian Griffin of Atlanta, Georgia, sister-n-law Maggie Ross of Whistler, Alabama, Her uncles, Gilbert Griffin and Charles Griffin of Racine, WI and Hines Griffin, Memphis, TN. Cousin Rebecca Smith, Akron, OH. Special nieces Gerri Griffin, Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda Taylor, Whistler, Alabama, and Christine Jones of Columbus Mississippi and long, long time friend Gladys Kennedy of Huntsville, Alabama and special family friend Antoinette Williams, Eight Mile, Alabama; and a host of other relatives, cousins and friends.
During Sister Cooley early years as a young adult, she joined the Third Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend B. J. Parker. Sister Cooley served in many capacities of the church; Sunday School Secretary, Senior Usher Board #1 under the leadership of Genevie Smith and she was also one of the cooks for Third Missionary Baptist Church. She was employee of the Public School System and USA Medical Hospital as a cook. Sister Cooley was a faithful member of Third Missionary Baptist Church until her health began to fail.
For a listening ear to some and those who knew sister Cooley was a pioneer and a Civil Rights worker. She believed in equal rights for the people of her community (Whistler, AL and Mobile County); she was the secretary for John L. LeFlore of the Non-Partisan Voters League, campaigned for the first black mayor of Prichard, Alabama, Mayor A. J. Cooper, campaigned for Senator Howard Heflin, Tom Purvis, Michael Figures and the list goes on and on. Sister Cooley was also a member of the Improve Benevolent Protective Order Elk of the World where she served as Daughter Ruler of Gulf City Lodge and a member of the Chateau Social Club
Sister Cooley will be sadly missed by her family and friends that new her as MuDear; children, Alfred J. Griffin, Detroit, Michigan, Denise (Calvin) Knight, Daniel (Dianne)Cooley, Daniel C. (Irma) Jackson, Eight Mile, Alabama, Rosemary Hall and Fannie L. Griffin, Dawes, Alabama; grandchildren, Arthur (Kristina) Griffin, Kansas City, Missouri Tasha(Todd) Jeffries, Tennessee, Mary (William)Barry, Dauphin Island Pkwy, Ashley (Gerrell) Stallworth, Semmes, Alabama, Bobbie D. Griffin, Dawes, Alabama, Tony (Sorina) Fitchard, Huntsville, Alabama, Daniel (Marsha) Jackson, Eight Mile, Alabama, Matthew and Samantha Jackson, Eight Mile, Alabama, Antoinette Griffin, Detroit, Michigan, Tya (Henry) Mosley, Jackson, Mississippi, Zion Knight and Ruben Johnson, Mobile, Alabama. Eleven (11) great grandchildren; Thirteen (13) great, great grandchildren. Also, will be sadly missed by her sister Marian Griffin of Atlanta, Georgia, sister-n-law Maggie Ross of Whistler, Alabama, Her uncles, Gilbert Griffin and Charles Griffin of Racine, WI and Hines Griffin, Memphis, TN. Cousin Rebecca Smith, Akron, OH. Special nieces Gerri Griffin, Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda Taylor, Whistler, Alabama, and Christine Jones of Columbus Mississippi and long, long time friend Gladys Kennedy of Huntsville, Alabama and special family friend Antoinette Williams, Eight Mile, Alabama; and a host of other relatives, cousins and friends.