Brett Thomas Cooper

North Augusta, SC –Brett Thomas Cooper, 48, entered into rest on July 29, 2022 following a lengthy battle with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. The family will receive friends at Posey Funeral Directors Friday, August 12th from 5 pm until 7 pm. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, August 13th at 2:00 pm at Stevens Creek Church. Private interment will take place at Pineview Memorial Gardens. Brett was born February 10, 1974, in Buffalo, New York to Wayne and Janet Cooper. Brett moved to Venice, Florida when he was 5 and graduated from Venice High School. Brett attended University of Central Florida graduating with a BA in Elementary Education, as well as a Masters Degree . While at UCF, Brett pledged Sigma Chi Fraternity and served as Vice President of his Fraternity and developed lifelong friendships with many of his brothers. At UCF, Brett served on Orientation Team (O Team) and President’s Leadership Council, where he met the love of his life, Mary Beth. Brett married Mary Beth on March 14, 1998. When their first son, Jackson, was a toddler, the family moved to North Augusta, South Carolina, where they became active participants in the community. Brett was an accomplished and beloved teacher. While in Orlando, Brett taught at Red Bug Elementary School where he earned a Golden Mickey Award and was voted Teacher of the Year. He received his Specialist Degree in Education while teaching with the Columbia County School System in Ga. He taught at schools in Columbia County, Georgia for over 20 years including Stallings Island Middle School, Riverside Middle School, Lewiston Elementary School and Belair Elementary , where he was a beloved math teacher and coach. He also taught teaching courses at Augusta University. Brett was a man of many passions. He loved music, especially 80s music, and few could beat him at 80’s music trivia or Song Pop. Brett was a talented musician in his own right, playing with the Simple Gifts band at St. Bart’s Episcopal Church in North Augusta and spending many a summer entertaining kids with his guitar at the library or his students with popular songs converted to cover math topics. Brett loved sports. He was an avid baseball card collector, and he loved coaching. He coached wrestling at Augusta Christian School and Greenbrier High School and football at Stallings Island Middle School and Riverside Middle School and baseball at Stallings Island Middle School. As a coach, he instilled in his players a love of the game, the importance of a disciplined work ethic, and an appreciation for being a team player. Above all, he was a mentor to all who played for him. Brett was a man of faith. Attending church, singing in the band and being involved in many committees, as well as helping out with skits during VBS for the children. He brought his amazing energy to everything he did. Above all, Brett loved his family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. There was no greater happiness for Brett than spending time with his family – playing music or playing games or just being together. Brett attended countless cup stacking events and sporting events for his children, and Brett coached both Jackson and Peyton as they were growing up. He sang with Jackson in the Simple Gifts band and when Peyton was a colicky baby, it was Brett who spent his summer walking Peyton in a stroller for hours to soothe him. With Brenna, they won the Father-Daughter dance contest at Belvedere Elementary School 5 years in a row. And spending time on the back deck with Mary Beth , his wife of 24 years was something he loved to do. Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Mary Beth Cooper, sons, Jackson Cooper (Ally) and Peyton Cooper, and daughter, Brenna Cooper; father, Wayne Cooper (Val), mother, Janet Walter (Richard), sister, Stacy Wright (Dan); niece, Amelia Wright and nephew, Justin Wright. While cancer took his life far too early, he lived his life fully and there is no doubt that God received Brett in heaven with a frothy beer and greeted him, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Pallbearers will be his sons, Jackson Cooper and Peyton Cooper, his Sigma Chi brothers, Carnot Evans and Chirs Camacho and his fellow Stallings Island Middle School teachers, Casey Heckathorn and Tommy Kirk. Honorary Pallbearers will be Billy Hane, Robert Williams, Barry Calloway, Chris Lehi, Trevor Ward and Cliff Warner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge Houston, 6801 Ardmore Street, Houston, TX 77054, a place where Brett and Mary Beth spent time while getting treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

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Brett Thomas Cooper

February 10, 1974 - July 29, 2022