From These Roots

“Miss Cooper meant a lot to my life, and I am sure meant a great deal to all of the others who have gone through the halls of North Greenville.”- Rev. Joe F. Vaughn

Frances Harlee Cooper was born October 26, 1894, to parents Thomas Cooper and Matlie Watson Cooper. She grew up in Travelers Rest and attended North Greenville Baptist Academy from 1914 until 1918 when she graduated with her high school diploma. This would be the beginning of one of the longest personal ties to North Greenville in its history. She then went to Greenville Women’s College (now a part of Furman University) where she completed two years of college.

Miss Cooper started her teaching career by returning home to North Greenville Baptist Academy where she taught history from 1922-1929. In 1929, Miss Cooper left North Greenville to finish her bachelor’s degree in history at Carson-Newman College (now University) in Jefferson City, TN. As soon as she graduated, she came right back home to North Greenville where she taught teach History and English. She loved learning and took courses at Winthrop and William and Mary College. In the late 1930s she attended Duke University during the summers to do graduate work in both History and English.

During her time at North Greenville, Miss Cooper was very involved in student life. She sponsored B.S.U, The Volunteer Band, the EQV Literary Society, and the Cooper Training Union. She was known to her students as a patient teacher who was also a friend. One former student, Minnie Taylor Bramlette, wrote this about Miss Cooper:

“She not only taught me those four years, and was my closest friend, but frequently helped me ‘pray through’ whatever problems I was facing at the time. In addition, she challenged me to earn a college scholarship, and after I graduated I was informed that I had been awarded the State Elk’s Scholarship, solely on her recommendation, through a letter I did not even know she had written.”

Miss Cooper taught at North Greenville until her retirement in 1963. She stayed up to date on her beloved campus, though, and frequently donated to the school. The Cooper Appartments on campus were named in her honor as well as a scholarship fund. She passed away in 1967 and is buried at Reedy River Baptist Church.