Birdie Mae (Jones) Cooley

Birdie Mae (Jones) Cooley, 96, of Springfield, Ohio passed away January 2, 2019 at Brookdale Centennial Park, Senior Living, Engelwood, Ohio with  support of Brookdale Hospice.  She was born in Royston, Hart County, Georgia on December 30, 1922.  She was the youngest child of 11 siblings of Pearlie (Bray) and LLewellyn Jones.  Birdie graduated from Gainesville, Georgia High School.  She moved to Springfield, Ohio met and married the late Marshall G. Cooley on September 19, 1943 in Augustus, South Carolina where he was stationed in the Armed Forces.

Birdie was a faithful and active member of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Ohio.  Birdie served as Financial Secretary for 10 years; a Trustee Board member;  Senior Choir member under the Director of Music, Pearl Burden.  She was a member of the Cora Cole Club and Alter Club.  Birdie was a former member of the Springfield Chapter of the Links, Inc.,The Springfield Urban League and the National Council of Negro Women.  Birdie was a founding, charter member and past president of The Les Femmes des Charities which was founded in 1947 to raise scholarship money for children who would attend college.  Birdie was employed at Ohio Bell Telephone Company until she retired.  

She is survived by her niece and goddaughter, Sheila (Jones) James, niece and P.O.A., Gwendolyn Jones as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, church family and lifelong friends.  Birdie was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband, Marshall G. Cooley in 1987; special and devoted friend, George Stanton of Detroit, Michigan; parents, Pearlie and Llewellyn Jones; brothers, Emmanuel, Curtis and Cratie Jones; sisters, Rosalee Jones, Pauline Felder, Lillian Davis Withers, Hassie Vincent, Juddie Fish and Myrtie Fullen; special sisters-in-law, Martha J. Jones and Helen Jones and special friend, Norma Jean Middleton of Wichita, Kansas.

A special thank you for care, support and love from Deacon Earl Porter, Second Baptist Church; neighbors, Heather and Marc Bacon and family, Donald Dozier, Johnnie Lawson, Martin Harris and family, Jennifer Dean, Marc Clark, LaVonda Fountaine, Jacquelyn Carr, Brenda Mabra, Christie Shells, Vickie Arrone, Karen Bright, Judy Baker, Rev. Dr. Shirley Stallwroth, Dr. Dona Fletcher, Sheranita Hemphill, staff at Brookdale Buckcreek and Brookdale Centennial Park and Brookdale Hospice, Dr. and Mrs. Hickerson and Dr. Darr.   

In lieu of flowers please make donations in loving memory of Birdie Mae Cooley to the Les Femmes des Charities in care of The Springfield Foundation, 333 N. Limestone Street #201 Springfield, Ohio 45503.

Visitation is Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10 a.m in Second Baptist Church, 615 S. Wittenberg Avenue Springfield, Ohio 45506 with Pastor Carl Hutchins officiating.  Burial will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery.  Arrangements provided by the Robert C. Henry-Clark Funeral Home.

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