Cooper Glapion Funeral Home

Warren Vernon Cooper Jr., the pastor of two local Baptist churches during a career of more than 30 years, died Oct. 2 of heart failure at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve. He was 66.A native New Orleanian, Pastor Cooper earned bachelor's and master's degrees in theology at Union Baptist College and Theological Seminary. Christian Bible College gave him an honorary doctor of divinity degree.He was installed in June 1977 as pastor of the St. Andrew Baptist Church of Braithwaite. In 2001, he was appointed pastor of Branch Bell Baptist Church, where he had been baptized.His duties included restoring both churches after Hurricane Katrina damaged them.Pastor Cooper served both churches until his illness forced him to retire in 2012.In addition to being a minister, Pastor Cooper was a funeral director. This was an outgrowth of his interest in this line of work as a child. He was a former president of the Crescent City Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.He served in the Army in Vietnam.Survivors include his wife, Nancy Mae Cavalier; a son, Kevin K. Cooper; and a granddaughter.A funeral will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Branch Bell Baptist Church, 1231 St. Maurice Ave. Visitation will start at 9 a.m.Charbonnet-Labat-Glapion Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com)