HOPE MILLS - Mrs. Irene S. Cooper, 84, of 5426 Spreading Branch Road, died Friday, April 24, 2009, in her residence. Mrs. Cooper was a charter member of Lafayette Baptist Church, a member of the Senior Choir, Keen Agers and Missions. She loved her church and friends and loved to travel. Mrs. Cooper was close to her family and loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She retired from The Fayetteville Observer after almost 36 years of service. She was preceded in death by her father, Peter P. Smith; mother, Jennie B. Smith; husband, Robert Douglas Cooper; brother, Peter Smith Jr.; sister, Frances B. Johnson; and brother-in-law, Sonny Johnson. Mrs. Cooper is survived by her son, Robert D. Cooper Jr. of Asheville; daughter, Judy C. Miller and husband Gary of Fayetteville; grandchildren, Keith Miller and wife Pam, Kevin Miller and wife Beth, and Kimberly Tew and husband Carey, all of Fayetteville, Kristin Cooper of Anderson, S.C., and Kortney Rosenthal and husband Eric of Candler; great-grandchildren, Jessica Myers of Anderson, Michelle Macon, Brandy Miller, Brandon Tew, Joseph Miller and Tony Macon, all of Fayetteville; great-great-grandchild, Bayleigh Macon; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Cooper of Asheville; sister, Elizabeth S. Rudd and husband Jeff; sister-in-law, Mildred Ann Smith of Charleston, S.C.; and brother, Johnathan Neil Smith of Fayetteville. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, April 27, 2009, in Lafayette Baptist Church, with Dr. Brian Lee officiating. Burial will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 this evening, April 26, 2009, at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Because it Matters, Lafayette Baptist Church, 501 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304. Services entrusted to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home of Fayetteville.