Cornelia Moore Cooper Borders

Cornelia Moore Cooper Borders passed away on November 2, 2008, in Macon following a brief illness. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at McCullough Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at First United Methodist Church of Warner Robins, followed by interment at Rest Haven Cemetery in Washington, Georgia at 4:000 p.m.

Mrs. Borders was born in Wilkes County, the daughter of Austin Henry Moore, Sr. and Nannie Quin Moore of Rayle, Georgia. She attended public schools in Wilkes County and graduated from Anderson College in South Carolina. Subsequently, she majored in Home Economics at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville where she also studied voice. Following her graduation from Anderson College, she became the chairperson of its Home Economics Department

During World War II she married Morris Turner Cooper and the young couple relocated to the new military town of Warner Robins. They were married twenty-nine years when she was widowed.

As a bride, she was hired in 1945 by the Houston County Board of Education and instituted the music program at Warner Robins High School in its first year of operation. For the next three decades, she taught Home Economics, Chorus, Economics and Family Relations both at Warner Robins High and Rumble Junior High Schools. She was a charter member of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. "Mrs. Cooper" was a popular and caring teacher who attended many reunions to visit with her former students. In retirement, she was an active member of the Retired Teachers Association.

In 1976, she married Andrew C. Borders. They enjoyed their retirement by traveling abroad, touring North America by motor home, and spending winters in Florida and summers at Lake Burton in North Georgia. The couple enjoyed their involvement with church and community activities and had an active social life.

One of the first members of the congregation at First United Methodist Church in Warner Robins, Mrs. Borders was a soprano soloist, choir member, 6th grade Sunday School teacher and sat on various committees. In recent years, she played the piano for the Wesley Sunday School class while husband Andy often led the singing.

Cornelia Borders never met a stranger and was one of those rare individuals who could put a person at ease from the moment they met. Always interested in people, she reveled in their accomplishments and milestones. Anyone needing anything could count on Cornelia's help.
Her sunny disposition and positive outlook on life drew people to her; the care and concern she had for them kept them her friends for life. Always the ideal Southern lady, she influenced her students to pursue their dreams and earned their love and devotion. After more than eighty years of putting her home economics skills to use, one would have to measure in miles the amount of yarn she used in knitting baby blankets, cabled sweaters and slippers.

Mrs. Borders was predeceased by her first husband, Morris Turner Cooper and her brother, Austin Henry Moore, Jr. Treasuring her memory are her husband Andrew C. Borders; son, Robert M Cooper (Joanne), Bonaire; grandson, Rob Cooper (Joy), Warner Robins; great-granddaughter, Josephine Eliza Cooper, Warner Robins; brother, Louis Quin Moore (Caroline), Florida; stepson, A. Christopher Borders (Patricia), Woodstock; several nieces and nephews.

It was Mrs. Borders' wish that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church, 205 N. Davis Drive, Warner Robins GA 31093 or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088