Phyllis Jean Cooper - Obituary

Celebrating the Life of Phyllis Jean Cooper

Phyllis Jean Cooper of Potomac, Maryland, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 26, 2026.

Phyllis lived a life marked by faith, music, service, devotion to family, and a deep commitment to helping others develop their God-given gifts. Those who knew her best remember a gracious and talented woman whose love for Christ was expressed through worship, teaching, encouragement, and faithful service to her church and community.

Born in Shorewood, Wisconsin on February 4, 1941, Phyllis demonstrated remarkable musical and academic ability from an early age. She quickly became an accomplished pianist and was talented in the dramatic and vocal music arts. She pursued her undergraduate education at Wheaton College in Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis, where she graduated cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Her studies included English, drama, music, and the liberal arts. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Webster College, graduating magna cum laude with a major in music and organ performance. She then earned a Master's degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College, with additional study at Princeton University.

Church music became one of the defining themes of Phyllis's early life. Beginning in her twenties, she served churches in a variety of musical leadership roles, including pianist, organist, choir director, children's choir director, music teacher, and children's drama director. She believed that church music and drama programming should involve as many people as possible and should enrich the spiritual life of the congregation. Leading children's choirs, youth ensembles, folk music groups, handbell choirs, and chancel choirs, she embraced performances of both traditional and contemporary sacred music. She also served as a vocal music teacher in public schools and as Music Director for the Missouri Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. Her leadership reflected not only musical excellence but also a desire to help others use their talents in service to God. Over the years she served at churches in Missouri, New York, Tennessee, New Jersey, and the Washington, DC metropolitan area, helping countless people discover the joy of worship through music.

While music played a central role in the first part of her adult life, Bible teaching became the defining ministry of her later years. Phyllis possessed a deep love for God's Word and a remarkable gift for communicating biblical truth with clarity, warmth, and practical application. For twenty-five years she served as Teaching Director for the founding class of Community Bible Study, influencing generations of class members through faithful exposition of Scripture and personal encouragement. Many came to know Christ or grew significantly in their faith through her teaching and mentorship.

Her influence extended far beyond her local community. With Community Bible Study International she traveled and taught in Romania and Bulgaria. She also served Community Bible Study in curriculum development and editing roles, helping create and refine Bible study materials used by thousands of participants internationally. More recently, she taught and served as a teaching resource for Community Bible Study International in Indonesia, connecting remotely each week to support leaders and students on the other side of the world.

For more than forty years, McLean Bible Church was Phyllis's spiritual home and primary place of ministry. There she combined her gifts in music, teaching, leadership, and discipleship. She directed children's musicals, taught Bible studies, led and supported small groups, mentored younger believers, and served wherever needed. Her faithfulness, wisdom, and servant's heart left an enduring impact on countless lives within the church family, including the wonderful community of internationals that was so dear to her.

Phyllis cherished her family. Together with her husband, Lawrence, she built a home grounded in faith, love, hospitality, and service. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother, and delighted great-grandmother. Her family remained the center of her heart throughout her life, and she faithfully prayed for them, encouraged them, and pointed them toward Christ.

Friends remember Phyllis as compassionate, creative, wise, encouraging, faithful, joyful, and deeply committed to the spiritual growth of others. She had a gift for making people feel welcomed, valued, and loved. Her life touched countless people through her teaching, music, friendship, hospitality, and Christian witness.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Doris Grothaus, formerly of Creve Coeur, Missouri.

Phyllis is survived by her beloved husband, Lawrence Cooper of Potomac, Maryland; her sons, Marc Cooper (Kim) of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Andrew Cooper (Karen Krieg) of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and James Cooper of Chicago, Illinois; her grandchildren, Lance Cooper (Kara) of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Kristen Johnson (Terik) of Greensboro, North Carolina, Brendan Cooper (Katrina) of Brighton, Michigan, and Courtney Avant (Jaylen) of Poquoson, Virginia; and her great-grandchildren, Ethan and Shawn Cooper of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Briella and Owen Johnson of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Chloe Cooper of Brighton, Michigan.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at McLean Bible Church, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia. Family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by Phyllis are invited to attend. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the McLean Bible Church Benevolence Fund, a ministry that reflects Phyllis's commitment to caring for those in need and serving the body of Christ.

Although her family deeply mourns her passing, they rejoice in the assurance that she is now with the Savior she faithfully loved and served. Her life stands as a testimony to God's grace and to the enduring influence of a life dedicated to family, faith, discipleship, and service. Through the countless people she taught, encouraged, mentored, and loved, her legacy will continue for generations.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:23