Sidney Wayne Cooper

Sidney Wayne Cooper May 30, 1951 - March 25, 2009 PHENIX CITY, AL — Sidney ÒBig SidÓ Wayne Cooper, 57 of Phenix City, AL went home to be with his Lord Wednesday March 25, 2009 while surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held 2 pm EDT Saturday at Lakewood Baptist Church with Dr. Billy Dickerson, and Rev. DeWayne Dean officiating according to Vance Memorial Chapel in Phenix City.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 pm EDT Friday evening at Lakewood Baptist Church in Phenix City. Mr. Cooper was born May 30, 1951 in San Antonio, TX and was the son of Ann Marie Davis Cooper and the late Stanley William ÒBillÓ Cooper. He was retired from MeadWestvaco Paper with 33 years of service and he was a member of Lakewood Baptist Church. Sidney was a loving and devoted husband, father and friend.  He lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease Wednesday morning.  Sidney was a star athlete at Smiths Station High School where he lettered in three sports. He played college football at Auburn University and Troy University.  You can't talk about Big Sid without mentioning softball.   He played professionally all over the country for many years.  He also was a part of many industrial and church league teams, along the way making many lifelong friends.  In 2007, Sidney was voted into the Alabama Softball Hall of Fame, one of his proudest accomplishments.  An avid sportsman, he refereed youth football at Smiths Station Panther Youth League & baseball at American Little League. He was also a volunteer coach at Central High School for many years.  You could also find him catering and helping run Mike & Ed's barbeque. He was best known for singing ÒMustang SallyÓ at numerous weddings & events. Undoubtedly, his biggest joy in life was coaching & watching his children play sports, which was evident by his presence at all their games. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the ALS Association or Lakewood Baptist Church. Sidney was loved by many and will surely be missed. Mr. Cooper is survived by his mother, Ann Marie Davis Cooper of Phenix City, AL; his loving wife, Rebecca Lynn Fuller Cooper of 34 years of Phenix City, AL; two daughters, Courtney Cooper of Phenix City, AL and Cassie Cooper and Shaun Culligan of Phenix City, AL; two sons, Cory Cooper and his wife, Jennifer of Columbus, GA and Cameron Cooper and his wife, McKenzie of Phenix City; two sisters, Sharon Hannigan of Phenix City, AL and Debra Sue Culpepper and her husband, Ennon of Hamilton, GA; three brothers, Stanley Cooper and his wife, Connie of Seale, AL, Terry Davis Cooper of Lawrenceville, GA and Rickey Cooper and Cindy Cooper of Phenix City, AL; One Grandson, Jackson Wayne Cooper; two aunts, Sue Cook of Phenix City, AL and Earnestine Leif of Waco, NE. Many nieces, nephews, extended loving family, church family, and many, many friends.