Deceased
Full Name:
Barbara Ward Cooper
Gender:
Female
Family:
Widowed; 3 Children: Carl, Joan, Tanya
Birth Date:
08/04/1929
Birth Place:
Memphis, TN
Home City:
Memphis, TN
Religion:
Catholic
MEd, Tennessee State University
PhD, Jacksonville Theological Seminary, 1999
MS, Education, Tennessee State University, 1963
BS, Elementary Education, Tennessee State University, 1950
Representative, Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 86, 1997-2022
Candidate, Tennessee State House of Representatives, District 86, 2022
Candidate, Tennessee State Senate, District 86, 2020
Minority Caucus Secretary, Tennessee State House of Representatives, 2011-2012
Member, City Empowerment Zone Committee
Former Member, Consumer Subcommittee, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Former Member, Consumer and Human Resources Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Former Member, Finance, Ways and Means Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Former Member, Government Operations Joint Committee, Tennessee General Assembly
Former Member, Health Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Former Member, Local Government Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Member, Memphis Better Schools Committee
Former Member, Subcommittee on Facilities, Licensure, & Regulations, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Transportation, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Former Member, Transportation Committee, Tennessee State House of Representatives
Member, Black Health Commission, 2007-2008
Member, Educational Leadership Commission, 2006-2008
Chair, Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, 2006-2008
Member, NCPERS Taskforce, 2002-2006
Member, Center City Commission, 1999, 2004
Chair, Education Committee, Tennessee Black Caucus, 1997-2004
Member, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, 1998-2004
Member, State Tourism Task Force, 2002-2004
Park Director, City of Memphis
Teacher, Catholic Diocese of Memphis, 1988-1994
Parent Coordinator, Catholic Diocese of Memphis City Schools, 1986, 1988-1994
Community Relations Specialist, Memphis City Schools, 1960-1986
Parent Coordinator, Memphis City Schools, 1960-1986
Instructor, Southwest Tennessee Community College, 1980-1986
Teacher, Memphis City Schools, 1950-1970
Community Relations Specialist, Southwest Community College, 1970
Mentor, Ladies Advocating Cultural Events, 2006-present
Founder, District 86 Advisory Council, 1997-present
Chair, African American Peoples Organization Community Organizer, 1996-present
Secretary, Les Belles Charmant, 1960-present
Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 1948-present
Member, Board of Directors, W.D. Callian Parenting Center
Member, Citizens for Better Service
Member, Congress of Industrial Organizations Labor Council
Former Member, District 86 Advisory Council, Southwest, Downtown, Northwest, Shelby Member, County Council
Member, Downtown Memphis Commission Board
Member, Education Leadership Council
Member, Kennedy Democratic Organization
Member, Memphis Area Association of Governments Board
Volunteer, Memphis Cotton Makers Jubilee
Member, Memphis Tennessee State University Alumni Association
Co-Chair, One and One Half Cent Sales Tax Funding for Education Committee
Secretary, Shelby County Delegation
Former Member, Shelby County Democratic Executive Committee
Member, Shelby County Democratic Women
Member, Shelby County Tennessee State University Alumni Association
Member, Social Action Committee, Saint Augustine Church
Member, Southwest Community Education Advisory Committee
Member, Tennessee Dispensing Opticians Association
Member, Tennessee State University Alumni Association
Member, Tennessee Tourism Roundtable
Member, Universal African American People's Organization
Member, Women in Education
Member, Women in Government
Chair, Social Action Committee, National Council of Negro Women, 2012
Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 2008
Convener, Cooper/Jones Legislative Conference, 2001-2004
Member, National Metal Museum, 2004
Member, Will/Wand, 2004
Member, Downtown Community Association, 1998
Member, SAINTS Downtown Association, 1998
Member, T.O. Fuller State Park, 1998
Co-Convener, African American Peoples Organization, 1996
Member, Universal African American People's Organization, 1991
Executive Committee Member, Shelby County Democrats, 1988-1990
Committee Chair, National Community Education Association, 1982-1984
President, Tennessee Community Education Association, 1984
Number of Grandchildren:
3