Ann Nixon Cooper

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Ann Nixon Cooper
Born
Ann Louise Nixon Cooper

(1902-01-09)January 9, 1902
Shelbyville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedDecember 21, 2009(2009-12-21) (aged 107)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
OccupationActivist
Known forInvoked in President Barack Obama's 2008 victory speech

Ann Louise Nixon Cooper (January 9, 1902 – December 21, 2009) was a

civil rights
.

Biography

Cooper was born in

sexist society.[6]

During the 1970s, she served as a tutor to non-readers at

Ebenezer Baptist Church. She also served on the Friends of the Library Board, serving at one time as vice president of the board. In 1980, she received a Community Service Award from Channel 11 for being one of the organizers of the black Cub Scouts
and serving as the first den mother for three and a half years.

She was also awarded the Annie L. McPheeters Medallion for community service from the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History in 2002.[2]

Age issue

When featured in Obama's 2008 speech, Cooper was 106 years old. Some news outlets erroneously reported her as "oldest voter"

George Francis, 110-year-olds Virginia Call and Onie Ponder, and 109-year-olds Nettie Whittington and Amanda Jones (all voted for Obama); and 112-year-olds Eunice Sanborn, Besse Cooper, and Walter Breuning (all indicated they likely voted for McCain) and 109-year-old Gertrude Noone
(who voted for McCain).

Cooper died on December 21, 2009, three weeks before what would have been her 108th birthday.

Census research suggests she may have been a year younger than claimed; the

1910 U.S. Census
lists her as seven years old in April 1910. Given a January birthdate, this suggests that she was born in 1903.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Chandler (November 5, 2008). "106-year-old in Obama speech: 'Things can change'". The Atlantic Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Ann Cooper Biography". The History Makers. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  3. ^ Booth, Jenny (November 5, 2008). "Profile: Ann Nixon Cooper, 106, singled out for praise by Barack Obama". The Times. London. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  4. ^ National Public Radio: Talk of the Nation, December 30, 2009.
  5. ^ Jagger, Suzy (November 6, 2008). "Ann Nixon Cooper: the history woman". The Times. London. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Associated Press (November 5, 2008). "Racism survivor Ann Nixon Cooper, 106, is honored by Barack Obama". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "Ann Nixon Cooper: Ann Nixon Cooper oldest American voter". Celebgalz.com. November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011.
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