John Edward Cosper

10/28/1946 - 01/15/2026

John Edward Cosper, 79, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully at his home on January 15th, 2026.
Born on October 28th, 1946, in Birmingham, John lived a life of kindness and unwavering devotion to those he loved.
John graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1964. He completed a BA in theatre from Birmingham Southern College in 1968. He earned a master's degree from Auburn University and UAB in counselor education/educational psychology in 1977.
After graduating from Birmingham Southern College, he enlisted in the US Navy and was honorably discharged in 1970.
John had a remarkable ability to connect with others in warm and open-hearted ways. He was an exceptional listener, a quality that naturally led him to a career as a professional mental health counselor. John became a prominent figure in the mental health, addiction recovery and crisis intervention fields, starting in the late 1970's through 2009.
John held several leadership roles in mental health facilities and in his final leadership position, John was Executive Director of the Chemical Addictions Program/Pegasus, a residential drug treatment center in Montgomery, Alabama.
Beyond his career in the helping professions, John maintained long friendships with a group of Theta Chi fraternity brothers who all went to Birmingham Southern College in the late 1960s. The core group and John stayed in contact by vacation gatherings, visits and by telephone until his death.
John had considerable talents and skills for gardening and painting. After retirement, landscaping and gardening became a passion for him. He found solace in the green sanctuaries he created and constantly renewed. He pursued an interest in painting and strived to develop the skills to match his sense of expression.
John is survived by his wife, Pamela Burks, his two children, Sean (Shelly) Payne and Meghan Cosper, four grandchildren, Anthony, Andrew, Olivia and Miller Payne, and one sister, Lynn Martin.
John was buried at Whispering Hills Nature Preserve and Natural Green Cemetery with only family attending.
John will be deeply missed and remembered for the light he brought to the lives around him.