Cooper Jasper – In the Arms of Jesus
Listen to the Memorial Service
- A note written by JJ, was read by the pastor at Cooper’s memorial service.
God gave us a precious gift February 24, 2004 at 11:27PM. Samuel Cooper Jasper was born. We were privileged to enjoy five years to know him, love him and be loved by him. Psalms 127: 3, 5, says “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Cooper was a blessing. He brought us so much joy and was absolutely a gift from God.
Melanie and I wanted you to know a little more about our special little boy. If there was ever such a thing as a perfect child it was Cooper. Not to take anything away from our wonderful, precious daughters, but Cooper was very, very special. He never gave us a minute’s trouble and was a perfect balance in almost every way as a son, a little brother, student and friend. He was a remarkable boy in every way. From early on, Melanie and I were convinced that he had a call from God on his life. Certainly the Lord’s hand was on him. His desire to obey and please the Lord would rival that of many adults. Cooper had the discipline of a marine, an incredible sense of humor and he absolutely had a servant’s heart. He lived life with so much zeal and energy. He smiled constantly and brought joy to everyone he met. He was so very kind, generous, helpful, grateful and thoughtful… to God be the glory. Once again, he was practically a perfect child.
- Cooper’s first word was “backhoe”.
- At only 15-months-old he taught himself how to snap his fingers, and then taught his big sisters. To this day our daughters can snap their fingers because someone who couldn’t even talk showed them how! Imagine that!
- When Daddy was away on a trip, Cooper would proudly proclaim that he would be the man of the house!
- His best-friend was Aaron Mangum.
- He earned a yellow belt in Karate and played baseball.
- He loved to swing, swim and jump on the trampoline. He enjoyed animals and loved to play with his toys. He especially liked action super heroes. He was artistic and very smart. His greatest joy was the love he had for his parents, his sisters and his Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Almost daily, complete strangers would comment on how special he was…Cooper impacted many lives in so few years.
- Cooper was all boy. Recently, he told his mother, “Momma, I think I like baseball better than Karate.” Knowing how much he enjoyed Karate, Melanie asked him why. Cooper said, “I like the way my cleats sound when I’m walking on the parking lot.”
We crammed a lot of life into only five years. In his last week and a half on earth, he shot fireworks, went swimming, played with his dog, rode his bike, rode the Wave runner, flew in an airplane with his dad, was laughing, riding a dune buggy when the Lord called him home. His last words were “Flame on!” Something he would say to make Daddy go faster.
Thank you for your love, support and prayers for our family. Certainly this is every parent’s worst nightmare.
Personally, I want to say I’m sorry. Humanly speaking, I was responsible and take the blame for the accident because I was driving the dune buggy when it flipped. Our faith and trust however, is in a loving, sovereign God who, according to His word has each of our days numbered. There is an appointed time for each of us to die. We are trusting the Lord to someway, somehow get glory from this terrible tragedy.
Thank you again for your love and continued prayers. Thank you for helping us celebrate the life and home-going of Samuel Cooper Jasper. We will miss him more than we can say, but we will see him again. Right now at this very moment, his is in heaven with Jesus.
If you would like to send condolences or a note of encouragement, you may send it by clicking here and I will pass them along.
You may also send cards and letters to:
Tupelo, MS 38803
The Jasper’s have requested that any memorial contributions be made out to AFA:
In Memory of Cooper JasperAmerican Family Association
P.O. Drawer 2440
Tupelo, MS 38802
August 9th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
What a wonderful little boy. I remember listening to JJ on the radio when they were expecting and after Cooper was born. You could hear the smile in JJ’s voice! I have a son who was born 6/3/03, his first year was rough for me due to losing a son to SIDS prior to our little guy. Every night when I kiss my son goodnight and hold him a little tighter I wonder why have we got to keep him and Cooper went home? I cry for Melanie and JJ and pray that God will sustain you during the coming years. Keep Cooper in your hearts and minds and know he is playing with my little boy, Joshua in heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 10th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Listened to the audio tonight as a family. Melanie and J.J….we are so sorry.
As you said in the prelude to the service J.J. … “God sees the whole picture.”
Right now we just see a corner of the painting, and it looks sad…but God has a plan for the rest of the wonderful masterpiece that he designed around Samuel Cooper Jasper. We all will see that be painted in the days ahead. And see Cooper one day.
May the peace of God that surpasses ALL understanding be with you.
This is a time when that ‘ALL’ really seems deep. We ache for you as a family.
God knows you, loves you, understands you and wants you to ’see’ Cooper and smile, every day, as you close your eyes and see Cooper walking, holding the hand of God, happy and waiting patiently to see you again.
I believe ‘Flame on!’ will somehow become something special. God knows the plan.
We love you guys. Dan and Family
August 20th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
JJ and Melony
JJ I have listened to you on the air for years and I have met you personally a couple times. I feel like I know your entire family because of the way you talk about them. The stories you tell put smiles on my face as I get ready for work. You have an awesome family and Cooper was truely a special child that was sent by God. I just listend to the memorial and was in tears as if he were my own. He was a wonderful child because his parents are so wonderful. You raised him by example and you are an example and an inspiration to us all. Your faith is incredible, and while one can’t know how they will handle a tragedy unless they experience it, I can only pray that my faith will be as strong. Thank you for sharing this with us and we are still pryaing for you and Melony and the girls. We also look forward to the day we meet Cooper in heaven as well. Cooper had the Fire of God burning in him and Flame on means keep that flame burning.
Love in Christ
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
JJ
I hope you can continually find peace through all that you and your familly have gone through. I know that God has specifically choosen you for his own by the transgression you have endured. I will continually pray for your family and will ask my wife and children to hold your family up in prayer for a long time to come. God bless all of you and as your brother in Jesus I will not forget the way you handled this time in your life. Your brother in Christ.
Andy and family SFO
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I am still praying for you and your family. Thank you for sharing your memories and especially your faith.
August 26th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
J.J., you and your family have been and will continue to be in my prayers. Listened to the service and it was so good…a true worship service! I tried to watch the slide show but have been unable to get it to run, only a green screen shows up. Thank you for the example of faithfulness you are setting for us all!
God Bless,
Brandi
September 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am
JJ,
You may not remember me well, but I was one of your nurses at the hospital on 4West. I was honored to get to know you better and was impressed with your beautiful family. More than anything, it was always cool a thrill to go into your room because you never complained and always gave God glory.
I was deeply saddened when I heard of your trajedy. Our family immediately began to cry out to God to provide strength for all of you.
Hearing you everyday on the radio is amazing. Many would have thrown in the towel and given up their faith. None of us know what tomorrow holds, but thankfully, we do know who holds tomorrow. I too, have taken my 6 yr. old out on many four wheel rides and his voice echos out, “Go faster Daddy.” Everyday we each take risks and I do pray that you do not beat yourself up over this accident. I don’t know why God chose to take Cooper home, but like you said, “He is in the arm of Jesus now.” And who could possibly love him more?
I am working full-time at the Tupelo Children’s Mansion now as a Case Worker/Nurse. Let me know if you ever need anything.
God bless you,
Robert Tomlinson
October 13th, 2009 at 9:49 am
JJ,
I know that it has been several months since Cooper’s accident, but with the new Talk Radio in Vincennes, I just learned of it. Just this am I heard you speaking of losing Cooper and my eyes filled with tears. I am so sorry for your loss and prayed for your strength today and will continue to do so. May God surround you and your wife, and Copper’s sisters and pull you through. You are such a blessing to your listeners. Thank you for sharing your heart and helping us all to see that we are in this together. Love Your Brother in Christ, Mark
October 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
We lost our son and nephew in a car accident on May 23, 2009. It was an awsome time for our family. I know that that sounds weird, but the work of God was sooo amazing in how he worked. They were killed at 2:57 on mile marker 7, what can be more perfect. My son was 16 and had just rededicated his life to the Lord only 2 wks prior. He had went on a mission trip in 2008 to Beleize and had a great time. He was full of life and always keep us happy and busy. We were able to have a double service and they are both buried in the same grave side by side. I know that the Best is Yet to Come, we just have to be prepared and continue to do Gods work until that time.
JJ and Melanie, I know how you feel in the loss of your son, it is very difficult to continue on, but all I know is to stay in Gods word and lots of prayer time. I miss my son sooo much and I know that you do too. We have started going to Compassionate Friends and it is a wonderful group. I will continue to pray for you, please remember our family too.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
It was in February 2000 when I first heard JJ Jasper on my way to work one morning.
What an encourgement you have been to me since then. As many of your listeners have said, I feel like I know you and your family personally. I want to thank you for your faithfulness to the ministry God has given you. I have two sons, Robert 6 and William 22 months. I can not imagine your great loss. Please know we will continue to pray for you, Melanie and your girls, especially during these next few heartrending months. I wish my boys could have played with Cooper! We won’t forget him.
God bless you all and may you find rest and peace in Him, the One who sees
Joanie
December 15th, 2009 at 9:40 am
jj and melanie, theres no way my wife and i,can begin to tell you how much we are praying for you, thinking of your entire family in this joyous Christmas season.We have 3 grandkids, 2 more on way, one who is our COOPER, 2 years old.We love you all, and know your COOPER is having a special CHRISTMAS with JESUS, who has COOPER wrapped up in his arms and safe.LOVE from, mike and kay guyton, tupelo, ms/GOD BLESS YOU ALL