Martha Lee Cooper

MARTHA LEE COOPER of D’Iberville passed away Monday morning in Ocean Springs Hospital following complications of a stroke. She was 76 years old. A lifelong resident of North Biloxi, “Margie,” as she was universally known, graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1951. She worked for a year at Ferson & Swan Insurance Agency before joining the American National Insurance Company, where she remained for the next 46 years, working with two generations of agents and becoming a company institution before retiring in 1998. In addition to serving as office administrator, she helped Mr. F. "Yankie" Barhanovich, the well-known district manager and civic leader, with such major charitable projects as the annual Shrimp Bowl football game in Biloxi and the Daily Herald Doll and Toy Fund. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in D’Iberville. Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Lee Cooper, and by her sister Leona Quave. She is survived by her remaining sister, Ethelynn Swan, and by her two nieces and nephew—George (Jamie Lynn) Swan of Baton Rouge and Biloxi, Mary Beth (Richard) Deethardt of Mandeville, LA, and Annalyn (Mark Stevens) Swan of New York. She is also survived by two grand-nieces and a grand-nephew—Mark Deethardt, Emmelyn Swan Stevens and Julia Philippa Stevens. Margie will be remembered as a wonderful family member, friend and devoted dog owner, most recently to her beloved Sunny Boy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon on Wednesday April 22nd at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi. Friends may visit an hour before the mass. She will be interred at Southern Memorial Park. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes, Howard Avenue, Biloxi is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com