Lavern Cooper, 55, of 800 West Ridgeway Street, Scott Hill, Briarcliffe, Apartment 108 died Friday evening, November 21, 2008 in Alleghany Regional Hospital in Low Moor.

He was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on February 9, 1953 a son of the late Warren and Ophelia Barnett Cooper.

He was a retired Laborer from the Maintenance of Way Department of CSX Transportation.

He attended the Main Street Baptist Church, and was a member of John W. Barnes #305 Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Clifton Forge.

Lavern enjoyed spending time working on cars and fishing.

He is survived by his wife Brenda Gay Ross Cooper of Clifton Forge; step daughter, Tayler Ross of West Haven, Connecticut; 2 sisters: Patricia L. Williams and Evelyn C. Cooper, both of Clifton Forge; 6 brothers: Melvin L. and Kim Cooper of Clifton Forge, Carlton E. Cooper of Petersburg, Glenn H. and Lenore Cooper of Clifton Forge; Randy Cooper of Clifton Forge; Tommy and Sophia Cooper of Hampton, GA; and Vincent P. and Tina Cooper of Clifton Forge; aunt, Ophelia Payne of Lexington, Virginia; 2 uncles: Wilbur Cooper of New York and the Rev. Matthew T. Barnette, Sr. of Clifton Forge; mother-in-law, Evelyn Jean Ross: sister-in-law, Joyce Dupree; and a brother-in-law, Sherman Ross, all of West Haven, Connecticut; he is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Daniel E. Leisure.

A funeral service will be conducted Friday at 12:00 noon from the Main Street Baptist Church with Elder Alfred Dearing assisted by other area ministers officiating. Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor.

The body will be placed in the church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Active pallbearers will be Robert Gordon, Sherman Ross, Davon Ross, Willie Allen, Donald Allen, William Lewis and Norman Thomas. The family received friends Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home. Friends may call at other times at the residence at Scott Hill. The family suggest memorial tributes take the form of contributions in Lavern's name to Scott Hill Retirement Community, 800 West Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422 or to DaVita Dialysis Center, 2504 Valley Ridge Road, Covington, Va. 24426.

Arrangements are being handled by Nicely Funeral Home.