Elliott Otto Cooper, 89, of Columbia passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at Still Hopes. Born in Augusta, Georgia he was the son of Elliott Otto Cooper, Sr., and Mildred Pearre Cooper Fowler. He was a member of the Stewards of Christ Sunday school class at Greenlawn Baptist Church where he also had served as a deacon.
Elliott attended Columbia schools and graduated from Dreher High School. He was a graduate of the Citadel (Class of 1958) and served in the United States Army Artillery from 1958 to 1960. He was a life-long member of the Citadel Alumni Association and volunteered in the community with the Boy Scouts of America, The Salvation Army, and The Citadel Foundation. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Richland Memorial Hospital (now Prisma Health) for eight years serving as Chairman for two and a half years. He also served as Federal Co-Chair of the South Carolina Rural Economic Development Council. In addition, he served on the boards of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Arthritis Foundation, the Columbia Sertoma Club, United Way of South Carolina, and Junior Achievement of Greater Columbia.
Prior to joining the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1991 where he served as District Director for the South Carolina office, he was employed with Security Federal Savings Bank for 27 years. He retired from the SBA after approximately another 28 years of employment. In 2017 he was awarded the “Order of the Palmetto” by Governor McMaster for his tireless support of South Carolina and its small businesses.
A man known for his unwavering optimism, kindness, and steadfast faith, Elliott lived each day with gratitude and purpose. His sense of humor, encouraging spirit, and genuine interest in others made him deeply respected by all who knew him.
Elliott is survived by his wife of 66 years Janice (Jean) Cooper and his three daughters Cindy Martellini, Allison Shuler (Frank), and Jill Scarborough (Matt). He is also survived by eight grandchildren Elliott Mainor, Carin Warren (Drew), Anna Katherine Sherrill (Zach), Nicholas Martellini (Holland); Madeleine Maury Shuler (Griffin), Lane McCarthy (Connor), Lee Scarborough, and Katherine Scarborough. In addition, four great grandchildren survive him: Liam Sherrill, Otto Warren, Shuler Sherrill, and Cooper Warren. Elliott was predeceased by his sister Linda Nunn (Sonny) of Columbia.
A memorial service for Elliott will be held at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel on Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 am followed by a private burial service in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at Dunbar starting at 10:00 am prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409 or to the Still Hopes Employee Assistance Fund, 1 Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169. The family would like to express a special thank you to the outstanding staff of Still Hopes where Elliott lived with friendships, humor, and dignity upon moving there in the fall of 2020.