H 4981

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 4981
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
Recalled
April 14, 2026
H. 4981
Introduced
by Rep. Hayes
S. Printed 4/14/26--S.
Read the first time February 4, 2026
________
A concurrent RESOLUTION
To request the Department of Transportation name the
Intersection of United States Highway 301 and Black Branch Road in the Town of
Dillon in Dillon County "Joseph B. 'Benny' Cooper Intersection" and erect
appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.
Whereas, born and
raised in Marlboro County, Joseph B. "Benny" Cooper was a son of the late
Joseph B. and Grace Carabo Cooper. At the age of seventeen, and while still a
high school student, he began working with Bethea Funeral Home in Latta under
the guidance of Thad and Oriana Bethea; and
Whereas, graduating
from Marlboro High School, he attended the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science
in Louisville where he earned an associate of applied science degree in 1965.
He successfully passed the national and state board exams to receive his
license as a funeral director and embalmer in the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, for the past
fifty-five years, Mr. Cooper has passionately served the residents of Dillon
and its surrounding counties. He founded Cooper Funeral Home in a two-story
building at 400 East Main Street in Dillon in 1970. The business would move to
its present larger location at 209 Black Branch Road in 1987 to accommodate the
growing business and better handle the needs of the families he served. Along
with live-streaming services, Cooper gives families of veterans the option to
have their loved ones escorted by a military caisson as they do at Arlington
National Cemetery; and
Whereas, a faithful
member of First Baptist Church in Dillon, he serves as a deacon and Sunday
school teacher. He is a member and has served in various capacities of the Pee
Dee Baptist Association and the Connie Maxwell Children's Ministries. He is a
longtime supporter of Camp Pinehill Baptist Retreat, a lay speaker at events
and funeral services in Dillon and the surrounding areas, a charter member of
the Latta Rescue Squad, and a former member of the Dillon Jaycees. He also has
served as interim pastor at a number of area Baptist churches that include
Brownville, Calvary, Sardis, and Second Baptist; and
Whereas, now an
octogenarian, Cooper shows no signs of slowing down. Surrounded by his loving
family that includes wife Emma Lou, and children Cliff Arnette, Audrey Jacobs,
Karen Lane, Michael Cooper and Deborah Cromartie, he continues to provide the
same caring and compassionate service the funeral home was founded upon.
Additionally, he also owns and operates Evergreen Perpetual Care Cemetery and
Mausoleum, and Pet Cremations; and
Whereas, showing
steadfast compassion and devotion to all those Benny Cooper Jr. has been called
to serve in more than fifty years as a funeral director and embalmer, it is
only fitting and proper that this son of the Palmetto State is honored with the
intersection where his funeral home is located named in his honor.  Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House
of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the
South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of
Transportation name the intersection of United States Highway 301 and Black
Branch Road in the Town of Dillon in Dillon County "Joseph B. 'Benny' Cooper
Intersection" and erect appropriate signs or markers at this location
containing these words.
Be it further resolved that
a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
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This web page was last updated on April 14, 2026 at 05:46 PM