Major General Jerome Gary Cooper, USMC (Retired), was called to be with the Lord on the morning of April 27, 2024.  Gary was born on October 2, 1936 in Lafayette, Louisiana to Algernon J. Cooper, Sr. and Gladys Mouton Cooper, and was the oldest of six children.
 
Gary received his B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps upon graduation in June 1958. Following graduation from The Basic School, he initially reported for duty with the 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. General Cooper served on active duty for 12 years, commanding a number of units, including the Marine Detachment aboard the Guided Missile Cruiser Chicago. In 1967, he became the first black officer in the Marine Corps to lead an infantry company into combat which is noted in the historical calendar of the Corps.