In the early morning hour on Nov. 20th, 1924, at his home in Fayetteville, the spirit of Sol Williams Cooper entered into rest. After a few days’ illness, he drifted peacefully into this eternal sleep.
God in His Mysterious Wisdom has taken from our midst one who was universally loved ad held in highest esteem in his adopted home. Many hearts are saddened over the thought of a life cut down so full of joy and hope. But often all is not life measured by the usefulness accomplished and not by the length? Nobel in every thought and deed, his feet trod the straight way of the Christian Kindness, charity and cheerfulness were his watchwords. His life was filled with good works.
A devoted husband and father, he gave the best in life to his own loved ones, and to those little children whom Providence had placed in his home. Who can judge the influence of an unselfish life?
To his devoted wife and children, he has bequeathed the priceless gift of his lasting influence, interwoven always with love, gentleness and sympathy.
To the brothers and sisters, he has left the remembrance of joyous companionship and counsel.
To the members of a younger generation, deep sorrow has come because of the loss of one they honored and loved.
His friends will miss his cheery greetings, his witty sayings and his engaging personality. To them he was ever loyal and true. A fearless advocate, he was always deeply interested in the affairs of his friends.
Coming to Fayetteville 16 years ago to assume the Presidency of the National Bank, the deceased had been closely identified with the business, social and church life of the community. At the time of his death he was President and general manager of the North Carolina Cotton Compress ad Warehouse Company, and also President of the Cotton Products Company of this city.
He had spent the greater part of his life in Oxford where he was born in 1865, being the son of the late James Crawford Cooper and Lucy Williams Cooper.
In 1885 he was married to Miss Willie Wiggins of Halifax County, who survives him with the following sons and daughters: J.C. Cooper and Sol W. Cooper, Misses Allene and Elizabeth Cooper of Fayetteville and Mrs. S. Rhodes Moffet of Asheboro, Mrs. John M. Rose and W.W. Alston of Oxford adopted daughters and son. He is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Col. Henry G. Cooper of Oxford, C.J. Cooper of Fayetteville, Mrs. Charles G. Elliott, Mrs. W.H. White and Miss Bell Cooper of Oxford.
After an impressive service in the First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, conducted by his pastor, Dr. W.E. Hill, the remains were carried to Oxford, accompanied by a large concourse of friends who would pay a last tribute to their departed friend. There by loving hands he was laid to rest, just as he would have liked, beside his little girl, and his parents and brother.
Sweet be the dreamless rest that comes to him on that beautiful hill overlooking the little town where he was born, and where he had spent his boyhood days, and the first 25 years of a happy married life. Handsome floral offerings covered the new made mound, and the graves of his loved ones who were awaiting him in that other land.
Friends and relatives throughout the state mourn his death and will honor his memory.
“It is not death to die—
What we call death in transition;
Life at the end of our mission;
The silent passing of the breath,
The quiet closing of the eyes;
A fleeting passing moment wrung—
And then, to awake in paradise with God—
This is not death, but life begun.”
From the front page of the Oxford Public Ledger, Nov. 25, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073078/1924-11-25/ed-1/seq-1/#words=NOVEMBER+25%2C+1924
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