Margaret Cooper

Margaret Ann Cooper, 90, of North Little Rock and Cabot passed away August 31, 2020. She was born August 7, 1930 in Des Arc, AR to the late Newton Earl Neighbors and Nora Mae Moody Neighbors.

Margaret was preceded in death by a son, Andrew Cooper; brother Newton Earl Neighbors Jr.; sister, Marian Elizabeth Montgomery (Fay); sister, Barbara Jean Young (James); and her former husband, Adren Earl Cooper, Jr.

Survivors include a daughter, Ann Cooper Cummins (Daniel); brother, Mike Neighbors (Joy); brother, Charles Burks Neighbors; sister-in-law, Iva Flossie Neighbors; daughter-in-law, Hala Cooper, and many other relations.

When her children were school age, she was a member of the PTA.  At one point, the public schools needed all new bus routes.  Margaret stepped in to help make sure all routes were setup for the first day the elementary schools integrated in Alexandria, Virginia.

Margaret was inspiring as a woman with a family, career and volunteer work.  She started classes at Northern Virginia Community College at the original Bailey's Crossroads campus.  It was a series of warehouses, outfitted to be classrooms.  After NVCC, she attended George Mason College, then a part of the Univ. of Virginia.  She received a Master of Arts in English from University of Maryland.  Her career pinnacle was achieved when she became an Editor for the U.S. Information Agency.  The USIA awarded her their highest honor for her excellence in her work.

Her two children were a cherished part of her life.  She raised them with husband Adren Cooper, in Virginia.  After 26 years of marriage, they divorced, but stayed friends.  She supported and worked with her son, Andy, to help him adapt to blindness in his thirties.  Her daughter, Ann, lived with her while attending George Mason University.  Margaret was a sponsor of Andy's wife, Hala, when she first came to the United States.

Margaret enjoyed the friendship of members of the Serenity Club in Alexandria, Virginia, and the meetings in Beebe and Cabot.  She especially enjoyed the Friday Cabot AA group.  She was instrumental in getting meetings started in towns where there were no meetings available.  She was generous and liked helping people and did so for numerous recovering alcoholics.

A virtual service will be held soon. Please email acumminsa@gmail.com to receive information on the service.

In lieu of flowers, please support your local substance recovery group or organization.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.