Cooper Pitt Abrams, III, age 84, passed away March 9, 2026, at his home in Zuni, VA, after several years of battling effects of serving in Vietnam. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cooper P. Abrams, Jr. and Cora Isabelle Murphy Abrams; also sisters, Leila and Wanda. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Carolyn; his beloved son, Michael Bryan Abrams; grandsons, Michael (Brooke) and Tyler (Caitlyn); and brothers, Arthur (Ann) and Keith.

Cooper lived in Rocky Mount until 3rd Grade. His Granddady Coltrain saved his life when Cooper stepped on cement that had an electric motor that was not grounded and his granddady broke him loose.

After the family moved to Pinetops, NC, he attended Pinetops Baptist Church. It was there that he learned about Jesus, but accepted Him as his Savior some years later. One of his enjoyments was after school "grabbing" a biscuit and heading to the woods and creek. As a teen, for extra money, he popped popcorn at the movie theater, cut grass, and worked on his uncle's farm to buy his school clothes. He graduated from South Edgecombe High School in 1960. He was artistic and drew the backdrop for the Junior-Senior Banquet and the senior play. He read so much, he was banned from the library, because he neglected his homework.

After graduation, he worked a short time for Long Mfg. Co. Then he enlisted three years in the US Army during the Berlin Crisis. He and Carolyn married in 1961, before he shipped out to Germany, where she joined him later in Munich at his station. After being discharged in 1964, his son, Bryan, was born and Cooper worked as a linotype operator for The Rocky Mount Evening Telegram. In December of that year, he enlisted in the US Air Force, where he served in Suitland, MD at the Weather Bureau, Vietnam, Mississippi, and Kure Beach, NC.

After his military service in 1968, he worked for Standard Electric, and started the security systems department. It was in 1972, when Cooper accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He then accepted the call to the ministry in 1977. He entered Piedmont Bible College and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Theology. While pastoring in Windsor, VA, God called him into the mission field to start Baptist churches.

Cooper was a missionary church planter in Utah from 1984 until 2019, and started three independent Baptist churches. The Lord led him to Beaver, UT, where he established a congregation, purchased land and a built a house of worship. The Lord then led him to Price, UT, where God blessed him with a congregation, where then a building was purchased and renovated. For a third time, the Lord sent him to Tremonton, UT, where a congregation was formed and a church was built.

He resigned from the church in Tremonton, to be a church helper to existing churches in need of pastors. He helped Baptist churches in both Roy and Layton, UT. While starting three churches and helping others, he earned a Masters of Biblical Studies at Piedmont Baptist College in 2000 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion from Bethany Divinity College & Seminary in 2013.

The family will receive friends at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 1:00 pm for visitation, followed by a funeral service with military honors at 2:00 pm. Pastor Kevin Broyhill of Calvary Baptist Church, King, NC will be officiating the service. A private burial will occur at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Cooper's memory to Calvary Baptist Church, 830 W 1200 S, Tremonton, UT. Post condolences on parrfuneralhome.com.