Ann Nixon Cooper facts for kids

Ann Louise Nixon Cooper (January 9, 1902 – December 21, 2009) was an amazing woman who lived to be over 100 years old. She became famous when Barack Obama mentioned her in his speech after he was elected President in 2008. Obama talked about her as someone who had seen a lot of "struggle and progress" over the years. She represented how much things had changed for Black people and women in America. Before this, she was well-known in Atlanta for being an activist and working for civil rights.

Ann Nixon Cooper's Life Story

Ann Cooper was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on January 9, 1902. She grew up in Nashville. When she was in her early twenties, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, Albert Berry Cooper. He was a dentist, and they had four children together.

Helping Her Community

Ann Cooper spent more than 50 years working to help her community. She was on the board of the Gate City Nursery Association. She also helped start the Girls Club for African-American Youth.

In the 1930s, there were no Boy Scout groups in Atlanta that included both Black and white children. So, Ann wrote to the Boy Scouts in New York for help. She helped start Troop 95, which was Atlanta's first Boy Scout troop for African-American boys. She even served as the first den mother for the Cub Scouts for over three years.

Working for Change

Ann Cooper was friends with important Black leaders like W. E. B. Du Bois, John Hope Franklin, and Benjamin Mays. She first registered to vote on September 1, 1941. However, she did not vote for many years. This was because of the unfair rules and attitudes against Black women in a society that was segregated (meaning Black and white people were kept separate) and sexist (meaning women were treated unfairly).

When her husband passed away, Martin Luther King Jr. sent Ann Cooper a message. She also met with Coretta Scott King and kept photos of their meeting.

Later Years and Awards

In the 1970s, Ann helped people learn to read by tutoring non-readers at Ebenezer Baptist Church. She also served on the Friends of the Library Board and was once the vice president.

In 1980, she received a Community Service Award from Channel 11. This award recognized her work in organizing the Black Cub Scouts and being their first den mother. In 2002, she also received the Annie L. McPheeters Medallion for community service. This award came from the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History.

Ann Cooper's Age

When President Obama mentioned Ann Cooper in his 2008 speech, she was 106 years old. Some news reports mistakenly called her the "oldest voter." However, there were other voters who were even older than her at that time.

Ann Cooper passed away on December 21, 2009. This was just three weeks before her 108th birthday. Some records, like the 1910 U.S. Census, suggest she might have been born in 1903, which would make her a year younger than what was often reported.

See Also

In Spanish: Ann Nixon Cooper para niños

• Virginia McLaurin