South Carolina H 4981: Joseph B "Benny" Cooper Jr. Intersection

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4981 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 14, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4981

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Recalled

April 14, 2026

H. 4981

Introduced 
by Rep. Hayes 

S. Printed 4/14/26--S.

Read the first time February 4, 2026

________

A concurrent RESOLUTION

To request the Department of Transportation name the 
Intersection of United States Highway 301 and Black Branch Road in the Town of 
Dillon in Dillon County "Joseph B. 'Benny' Cooper Intersection" and erect 
appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.

Whereas, born and 
raised in Marlboro County, Joseph B. "Benny" Cooper was a son of the late 
Joseph B. and Grace Carabo Cooper. At the age of seventeen, and while still a 
high school student, he began working with Bethea Funeral Home in Latta under 
the guidance of Thad and Oriana Bethea; and

Whereas, graduating 
from Marlboro High School, he attended the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science 
in Louisville where he earned an associate of applied science degree in 1965. 
He successfully passed the national and state board exams to receive his 
license as a funeral director and embalmer in the State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, for the past 
fifty-five years, Mr. Cooper has passionately served the residents of Dillon 
and its surrounding counties. He founded Cooper Funeral Home in a two-story 
building at 400 East Main Street in Dillon in 1970. The business would move to 
its present larger location at 209 Black Branch Road in 1987 to accommodate the 
growing business and better handle the needs of the families he served. Along 
with live-streaming services, Cooper gives families of veterans the option to 
have their loved ones escorted by a military caisson as they do at Arlington 
National Cemetery; and

Whereas, a faithful 
member of First Baptist Church in Dillon, he serves as a deacon and Sunday 
school teacher. He is a member and has served in various capacities of the Pee 
Dee Baptist Association and the Connie Maxwell Children's Ministries. He is a 
longtime supporter of Camp Pinehill Baptist Retreat, a lay speaker at events 
and funeral services in Dillon and the surrounding areas, a charter member of 
the Latta Rescue Squad, and a former member of the Dillon Jaycees. He also has 
served as interim pastor at a number of area Baptist churches that include 
Brownville, Calvary, Sardis, and Second Baptist; and

Whereas, now an 
octogenarian, Cooper shows no signs of slowing down. Surrounded by his loving 
family that includes wife Emma Lou, and children Cliff Arnette, Audrey Jacobs, 
Karen Lane, Michael Cooper and Deborah Cromartie, he continues to provide the 
same caring and compassionate service the funeral home was founded upon. 
Additionally, he also owns and operates Evergreen Perpetual Care Cemetery and 
Mausoleum, and Pet Cremations; and

Whereas, showing 
steadfast compassion and devotion to all those Benny Cooper Jr. has been called 
to serve in more than fifty years as a funeral director and embalmer, it is 
only fitting and proper that this son of the Palmetto State is honored with the 
intersection where his funeral home is located named in his honor. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the 
South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of 
Transportation name the intersection of United States Highway 301 and Black 
Branch Road in the Town of Dillon in Dillon County "Joseph B. 'Benny' Cooper 
Intersection" and erect appropriate signs or markers at this location 
containing these words.

Be it further resolved that 
a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

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This web page was last updated on April 14, 2026 at 05:46 PM