Mr. Darryl W. Cooper

With deep sorrow at his departure from us, and yet remarkable joy for his now perfected vision of our risen Lord Jesus, we announce the passing of our dearly beloved brother Darryl Wade Cooper on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. His 64 years feel brief, but all who knew him will undoubtedly be grateful for the time they shared with him. Darryl was a remarkably loyal and reliable son, brother, uncle, friend, colleague, neighbor, and brother in Christ who will be deeply missed by the great number of people touched by his genuine kindness and selfless generosity. Darryl’s love for his family was easily observed and genuinely felt. This was perhaps never more on display than when he, without a word, left a comfortable home and life behind to relocate to Ohio to help care for his mother, Alice, in her final years. Darryl’s life was robust with such examples of selfless love for his family. His kindness and loyalty will be sorely missed but not lost as we, with tearful smiles, will forever remember the love we shared with him. Darryl had a vast network of colleagues, and he was well known and respected in the accounting field for his dependability and tireless work ethic. He leaves behind a legacy of quiet professionalism and mastery of accounting, but his memory will live longest as the loving friend and servant he daily was to those who labored alongside him. No mention of Darryl could ever be complete without mention of his lifelong love for all things Gamecocks. But for Darryl, the University of South Carolina was more than simply his alma mater and a collection of his favorite teams. It was one of the defining ways that he touched people’s lives. Whether tailgating at the Farmer’s Market, losing his voice at Sarge Frye Field and Founders Park, or spending hours on the phone with friends politely opining on the state of Gamecock athletics, Darryl shared a unique bond with countless people that was more than simply fandom—he shared joy, sadness, frustration, and triumph with people for whom he cared deeply. Darryl as a Gamecock was a reflection of Darryl as man—fiercely loyal, self-sacrificing, and full of love for friends and neighbors alike. Darryl was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Alice Cooper, and is survived by his sister, Deborah Cooper Gilliland and brother-in-law Steve Gilliland; his drumming nephew, Jason Gilliland, with whom he somehow shared his house for two years (perhaps the greatest example of familial sacrifice among such a wealth of examples); a pair of nieces in Abbey Gilliland Riggs and Bethany Gilliland Prudden; grandnephews Liam Gilliland, Kade Riggs, and Ezekiel Riggs; and grandnieces Stella Gilliland and Ruby Riggs. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, 21 November at 5:00 pm at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Extension, Columbia, SC 29223 with Chris Murrell officiating. Visitation will follow the service and will end promptly at 7:00 pm. In lieu of traditional funeral attire, Darryl requested that attendees arrive dressed comfortably in their favorite Gamecocks apparel. We love you Darryl, and we can’t wait to see you again. In lieu of flowers contributions to be made to USC Baseball Scholarship at: https://donate.sc.edu/AG/sfp/ath/baseball-program-enhancement-fund

Tributes

Mr. Darryl W. Cooper

May 3, 1960 - November 12, 2024