Eddie was the son of Rev Leaston S. Cooper Sr and Elnora Westbrook Cooper. He was the twin brother of Eddie Mae Henderson. He was educated in the Sumter County School System. He attended the Albany Area College where he received his 2 year degree. He also attended the South Georgia Technical College in Americus, Georgia where he earned his 2nd 2 year degree. He Enlisted in the U. S. Army and received his Honorable Discharge. He then served in the Army National Guard and received his Honorable Discharge after a total of 20 plus years combined service. He was a member of the local chapter of the NAACP, the Boys Scouts Association, American Legion Post 558 and the Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Old Corinth Missionary Baptist Church where he as the head of the Youth Department and was Ordained as a Deacon.

He was married to Effie Shudell Jones Cooper. He was preceded in death by 1 son, Eddie Lee Cooper Jr, 5 sisters, Eddie Mae Henderson, Etherine Rena Cooper, Annie Clara Clayton, Sarah Solomon and Gertrude Cooper and 6 brothers, Jerome Cooper, Leaston Cooper Jr, Eugene Cooper, Nathaniel Cooper, Ceasar Cooper and Arthur Lee Cooper and 3 sisters-in-law, Carolyn Wade Cooper, Ozzie Mae Cooper and Brenda Delorn Cooper.

Survivors:
Wife: Effie Shudell Cooper.
1 Daughter: Mary Dean Smith.
2 Sons: Eddie Smith(Barbara) and Stanley Cooper(Thedoshia).
5 Sisters: Nadine King(John), Vera Arney(Arie), Barbara Linnear, Eartha Robertson(Johnny) and Irene Rutherford(Al).
5 Brothers: Willie Cooper Sr, Reubin Cooper(Vivian), Tony Cooper(Amanda), Thomas Cooper(Angellette) and Royzell Cooper(Shirley).
1 Sister-In-Law: Minnie Cooper.
2 Devoted Nieces: Krista Cooper and Kimberly Cooper.
3 Close Friends: Yolanda Hill, Amelia Biggs and Ronnie Henderson.
11 Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandchild.

Graveside services were held Sunday, August 8, 2021 at 10AM in the Cooper Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Leslie, Georgia with Rev Gerald Harris officiating.