Elaine Cooper

Elaine Cruthirds Cabell Cooper, a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, was born on October 7, 1939, to Florita Reed Cruthirds and Forrest Raphael “Red” Cruthirds, passed away on February 19, 2022, surrounded by her family.

Elaine was predeceased in death by her parents; her son, Joseph Breckinridge Cabell III; her sister and brother-in-law, Terry Ann Hewes and James Finley Hewes, Sr.; and her first husband and the father of her children, Joseph Breckinridge Cabell, Jr.

Elaine is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Andrea Elaine and Alan Miller Jones; her grandson, Breckinridge Miller Jones; and her sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and the Hon. Robert H. Walker; her nephews and nieces, James Finley Hewes, Jr., Tiffany and Forrest Dent Hewes, Frederick Reed Hewes, Madeline and Hon. Robert Fant Walker, and Ana Reed and John Watson Galloway, and the respective children of each.

Elaine was a graduate of the Baptist Hospital Gilfoy School of Nursing in Jackson and attained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Carey University. She was accredited by the State of Mississippi and National Nursing Associations as a Registered Nurse receiving outstanding commendations over the years. She did graduate work in Cardiology and was published as a contributing author in “A Primer of Projective Techniques of Psychological Assessment” as Elaine Cabell Cooper, R.N.C.

In her early life Elaine raised her family in Jackson and participated in various social, philanthropic, bridge, and country clubs for almost twenty years. She then moved to Gulfport and had a fulfilling medical career as a Registered Nurse at the MHG oncology floor, the Gulfport Veterans Administration Psychiatric Hospital, and as the Nurse Recruiter for the Veterans Administration for the Gulfport, Biloxi, Mobile, and Pensacola Veterans Administration Hospitals.

Elaine was an incomparably smart, charming, beautiful, mannered, cultured and a well-travelled southern lady, and fiercely loyal to her family, friends, and patients.  She was well respected by her friends and peers.

Her family would like to express and extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of Brookdale Assisted Living Biloxi, as well as Kare-in-Home Home Health and Hospice, and Dr. Douglas Lanier and staff for their professional, compassionate, and exceptional care for our loved one, Elaine.

A Catholic Mass of Christian burial will occur on Friday, February 25, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., where family and friends may come at 10:00 a.m.  A private burial will follow thereafter at Floral Hills Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, or if a donation would like to be made in Elaine’s memory, a donation would be appreciated to St. James Catholic Church, 366 Cowan Road, Gulfport, Mississippi, 39507, or any nursing program or nursing student.