Ibo Cooper’s wife Joy remembered for ‘magnificent inner and outer beauty’
Thanksgiving service held at St Andrew Parish Church for late economist, broadcaster
Published:Saturday | October 21, 2023 | 12:08 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Family, extended family and friends of Althea ‘Joy’ Cooper solemnly gathered inside the landmark St Andrew Parish Church in Half-Way Tree on Friday morning to bid farewell to a virtuous woman who defined excellence and who was undeniably “top shelf and classy”, as Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore wrote in a message to her husband the day after her passing.
It was with tears that the life of Joy, the economist and former radio broadcaster and Air Jamaica flight attendant, was celebrated. Her older brother, Patrick Atkinson, who did one of two tributes, spoke of the joy of her birth, the only girl and last child in a family of boys. Her considerably older brothers – Patrick, who she followed, was already nine years old when she was born – were her protectors and later Joy’s father figure. In fact, it was Patrick who gave his blessings when Joy, a 20-year-old University of the West Indies student told him of her decision to marry her 21-year-old UWI soulmate, Kingsley Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper. Their marriage lasted 50 years, and like a tear-jerking movie, Ibo died exactly two weeks after Joy.
Speaking directly to his mother through his tribute, son Abean spoke of how the death of his brother Arif in March affected her, and, trying to hold back the tears, lamented the Grim Reaper’s snatching of his family members.
“Arif is gone and I watched you die of a broken heart ... You never deserved the pain of losing a child, you never deserved to die... Mommy, some things remind us of home, but you are home. As I celebrate your life, I will try to be fine but I really, really, really wish we had more time,” Abean said in part.
REMEMBRANCE
His sister, Arianne, the only girl in the family, shared that her mother was her best friend, whose gems of wisdom have long found a constant place in her heart. Composed throughout most of the remembrance, Arianne brought to life a dedicated wife and mother who put family first, even while achieving her own personal goals. For example, with two small children – Arif her firstborn and Arianne – Joy finished her degree in economics at The UWI and graduated. Arianne shared that her mother would leave her and Arif with friends under the tree on campus while she attended classes.
“She said that I would sit quietly, but anyone who knows Arif as a baby, he was always loud and there were always constant shouts of ‘Mummy!’ to get her attention,” Arianne shared in her remembrance.
She paid tribute to Joy’s “sweet innocent simplicity combined with a fashionable style and a keen street savvy,” and noted that her mother epitomised “infinite endurance, unwavering loyalty and a magnificent inner and outer beauty”.
Like her uncle, Arianne made reference to her parents’ love story and their travels together. Ibo would go on to co-found legendary reggae band, Third World, and Joy was beside him on the journey.
“Most of her travelling was with my dad and he said to her, ‘One day I am going to be famous and we were going to travel the world together.’ My mother always looked at him and smiled and said, ‘Well, that is one promise he kept to perfection.’ They travelled to over 50 countries together,” Arianne shared.
Taking it back to the beginning, she reflected on the couple’s decision to get married. “Uncle Patrick asked them more than once, ‘Are you sure?’ and they both said, ‘Yes.’ Given the time with which they both departed this Earth, I would say that they were as certain about being together now, 50 years later, as they were on that day when Uncle Patrick gave his blessings.”
Firmly intertwined with Joy’s love for family was her devotion to her God, and her brother shared some of the messages that she sent to him after Arif’s death and when her and her husband’s health was failing. Joy always gave thanks, and, as Reverend Father Franklin Jackson said, “Our sister Althea Joy believed in God... she was grounded deep in the Saviour’s love. Sister Joy was in constant preparation.”
Among those present to give thanks for the life of Althea ‘Joy’ Cooper were Simone Clarke; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange; Coleen Douglas, family friend and communications director at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts; reggae singer Nadine Sutherland and Mary Isaacs; decorator and artiste manager Bridgett Anderson; and host and content creator Yendi Phillipps.
The soloist was Phebe Ann Henry; cantor D’Arcy Tulloch-Williams and organist Audley Shaw. Following the service, the internment took place in the Columbarium on the grounds of the historic church.