GOLDSBORO – Thomas Collins Cooper, Jr., 59, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro

Collins was born in Bertie County on November 10, 1952 to the late Thomas Collins Cooper, Sr. and Annie Lee Rush-Spoon Cooper. He was a 1970 graduate of Roanoke Chowan Academy and a 1977 graduate of East Carolina University, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon.

Collins owned and operated Collins Cooper Realty. He served as the Executive Director of the Windsor/Bertie Chamber of Commerce in Windsor and was also a member of the Town of Windsor’s Board of Commissioners.

He was the recipient of the following awards: Eagle Scout, 2011 CONE Director of the Year, Rotarian of the Year and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Collins was a 2010 Graduate of the Rural Economic Development Institute. He was a member of the CPN Group, the Windsor Rotary Club, the Chambers of the North East Committee, Mid Eastern Regional Housing Authority Board of Commissioners where he served as Vice Chairman, Golden LEAF Foundation where he served as a Mentor, the CPN Group and was a proud member of the ECU Pirate Club.

Collins realized that our future is in the hands of young people and they are a valuable commodity. He challenged each of us every day to reach out and touch our future.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012 at the Providence United Methodist Church columbarium with the Rev. Terry Hobbs officiating.

Collins is survived by his wife, Linda Jinnette Cooper; his children, Paula Cooper Rendleman and fiance’ Chris Lineberry of Greensboro and Thomas Collins Cooper, III and wife, NikiLeigh, of Raleigh; his grandchildren, Jessica Grey Rendleman and Landon Lineberry; and his mother and father-in-law, Ralph and Pauline Jinnette of Goldsboro. He is also survived by his brother, Dick Cooper of Merry Hill; his aunt, Edna Earle Cooper of Windsor and his canine buddies, Woody and Kirby.

At Collins’ request, in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Providence United Methodist Church Columbarium Improvement Fund, in care of Pat Herring, at 202 Providence Church Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.