Deborah Ann Cooper

February 6, 1954 - August 29, 2021

Deborah Ann Cooper made her grand introduction into the world on Saturday, February 6, 1954, to loving parents Jack and Elizabeth (Betty) Cooper. Growing up in historic Rondo, Deborah learned the values of community and family first, and it was those values that kept her grounded as she became one of the first Black students in Saint Paul to integrate Highland Park elementary, middle, and senior high schools. A brilliant academic in her own right, Deborah was selected as a National Honors Merit Scholar during her senior year at Highland Park Senior High School. After graduation, Deborah went off to a “different world” attending a Historically Black College University (HBCU), Lincoln University located outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she majored in English and Communications.Upon Deborah’s return to the Twin Cities, she received her first position in communications, working for the Pioneer Press, where she worked for several years before moving into her first major corporate role at 3M. For nearly two decades, Deborah worked at 3M spearheading the internal publications “3M Today” and “Stemwinder”. Later, Deborah would lead public relations and marketing for Quest Communications, and most recently, working in the communications department for Amazon. Deborah enjoyed spending time with her family and close girlfriends (Sharon Scott, Geneva Gill, Josephine Weaver-Crowe, Michelle Harper, Karen Allen, and Kathy Coolidge); traveling internationality with her sister, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Cooper; writing (creating the 30th anniversary commemorative souvenir book for Rondo Avenue, Inc.); and last but certainty not least, enjoying her naps. She left this world peacefully on Sunday, August 29, 2021 to be reunited with her parents and life partner, Herbert (Fuzzy) P. Brock, Jr. Deborah is proceeded in death by her grandparents, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin and Cora Moore; parents, Jack and Elizabeth (Betty) Cooper; brother, Russell Roberts, Sr.; nephew, Russell Roberts, Jr.; and life partner Herbert (Fuzzy) P. Brock, Jr. Those left to cherish her memory: sister, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Cooper; nieces Valerie Roberts Anderson and Denise Roberts-Walker (Curtis Walker); nephews Keith Walton and Dr. Jermain Cooper; cousins Beverly Johnson Dabney, Roberta Cooper Johnson, and Bettina (Tina) Padelford; and a host of other relatives and friends.