Cooper, Carolyn Virginia Ellis

Held Long Career At Olan Mills And Was Fiercely Independent

  • Thursday, December 7, 2023
Carolyn Cooper
Carolyn Cooper

Carolyn Virginia Ellis Cooper, beloved mother and friend, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at the age of 79, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, after a prolonged respiratory illness.

Carolyn was born on Oct. 26, 1944, in Chattanooga, to Wallace Edward Ellis and Elwanda Lassetter. She began her career as an Electronic Technician with Olan Mills in 1975 and was well known during her career in the Photo Services Department as someone who could be relied on for her technical skills and problem solving capabilities. Carolyn would tell you that her most important job was being a mom to her three children who knew that she was there for them one hundred percent. She was a fiercely independent and strong person who struggled for years with a debilitating illness but always found a way to help the people she cared about. She maintained many lifelong and close friendships. She was a charter member of Gospel Way Baptist Church.

Carolyn enjoyed being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Her hobbies included gardening, photography, and fishing. In her later years, Carolyn enjoyed outings with her Lifters group, visits to Daytona Beach Florida, caring for her Peace roses, and cuddling her little dog Mollie. She fought hard to live an active life and filled each day with purpose.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her mother, Elwanda Lassetter Poteet, and step father Leonard Poteet, her father, Wallace Edward Ellis, and step mother Edith Rayfield Ellis.

She is survived by her three children, Anita (Scott) Wright, Susan Sinclair and Lebron Cooper, grandchildren Caroline Wright, Thomas Wright, Mackenzie Sinclair, Madison Sinclair, and siblings Wanda Lynn Poteet Garrett and Tim Edward (Kathy) Ellis.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, Dec. 11, at the Heritage Funeral Home on Battlefield Parkway at 11:30 a.m. with burial at Tennessee Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery in Rossville. Dr Keith Mcleod will be officiating.

Visitation for friends and family will be on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 2-8 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. until the service. The service will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend and may be accessed through www.heritagebattlefield.com at the bottom of Carolyn’s tribute page.

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