Sheila Lee Cooper

Sheila Lee Leach was born on April 8, 1956 in Charlotte, North Carolina to parents Johnsie Adams Leach & Samuel Lee Leach. However, she spent her formative years in Brooklyn, New York.
Sheila's mother passed away when she was just 11 years old, so she resided with her older sister Linda and her husband Thomas Green. Since they were newly married, Thomas's mother, Bennie Green, felt they were too young of a couple to raise a child. So, Mrs. Bennie Green requested that Sheila come live with her. As a result, Sheila found a loving home with her in Fairmont, West Virginia. Bennie treated Sheila as one of her own grandchildren, fostering a deep bond that endured throughout the years.
Returning to New York, Sheila graduated from Martin Van Buren High School in Queens, in 1974. She embarked upon a journey of love and family, marrying George Holmes, and raising two children, Nikki and Jay, in Queens NY, before divorcing. In 1979 while working at the Post Office in Manhattan, Sheila met Aroni Saunderson, who had a son named Lavelle. They formed a blended family and later married, welcoming two more children, Sia and Pharoah, into their lives. Together, they created a loving home in Brooklyn, NY until they divorced. In 2015 Sheila found love once again and, married her current husband, Carl Cooper, Jr. in 2017. They share no children together.
Throughout her life, Sheila pursued a career in real estate, which provided her to relocate to Woodbridge, Virginia. Sheila remained in the property management field as a dedicated property manager until her retirement on May 31, 2023.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sheila's true passion lay in helping others secure stable financial futures. Since the 90s, she dedicated herself to Primerica, an organization focused on educating families about life insurance and financial planning. Sheila's commitment to this cause was unwavering, and she tirelessly shared her knowledge with anyone who would listen. Sheila's famous line, "You have to get licensed," exemplified her dedication to leading by example and supporting others through difficult times.
Her plans to contribute to the lives of those she loved continued, even through her battle with pancreatic cancer. Her faith in God carried her through the fight of her life.
She was called to her heavenly home on July 1, 2023 at her residence in Woodbridge, Virginia, leaving behind family and friends who loved and cared for her very much.
She was predeceased by her parents Johnsie and Samuel Leach, and siblings Ricky Odom and Simpson McCain.
She lives on in the hearts of her living siblings: Linda, Alton, O'Donald and Cynthia.
She will continue to be loved in the memories of her grandchildren: Ramel, Jalen, Jayla, Zuri, Jarius, Zaki, Zakiya, Legend, Pharoah, and one unborn grandson Saint, as well as three great-grandchildren Nevaeh, Sebastian, and Malachi.