Jenelle (Calloway) Cooper

Jenelle Calloway Cooper passed away on November 21, 2025, at the age of 95.

She was born on November 17, 1930, in Stanly County to the late Charlie Calloway and Bertha Shepherd Calloway.

Jenelle was raised along with her siblings at Baptist Children’s Home in Thomasville, NC. She taught ceramics at Rowan Cabarrus Community College and was a member of First Baptist Church of Salisbury.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Clarence Bennett Cooper, Sr. and her sons Clarence Bennett Cooper, Jr. and Steven Douglas Cooper.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Robert Dale Cooper (wife Belinda) of Summerfield and Shelia Lefler (husband Barry) of Midland; daughter-in-law Mary Pat Cooper of Salisbury; siblings John Calloway of Salisbury and Betty Coley of Albemarle; as well as nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

A service will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday November 26, 2025, in the Chapel of First Baptist Church, 223 N Fulton St, Salisbury, NC 28144. Officiating will be Rev Ronnie Pinyan and Rev Barry Lefler (son-in-law). The family will hold a gathering of friends immediately following in the church fellowship hall. Burial will follow at Rowan Memorial Park, 4125 Franklin Comm Center Rd, Salisbury, NC 28144.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in memory of Jenelle to Stanly County Hospice (P.O. Box 2801, Albemarle, NC 28002-2801) or to Baptist Children’s Home (P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338).

The family would like to thank the staff of Spring Arbor Assisted Living for their love and compassionate care shown to Jenelle.

Lyerly Funeral Home serves the Cooper family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jenelle (Calloway) Cooper, please visit our floral store.