Arlester Cooley

Arlester Cooley was born on Thursday, September 22, 1932, in Aberdeen, North Carolina.  He left this life on Monday, March 15, 2021 at the age of 88. The only son of the late Furman Cooley and Ellamae Gore, he grew up  in Aberdeen, North Carolina, with his Grandmother , the late Mary Cooley, whom he loved dearly.  He was educated at Berkley High School.

Arlester was employed by  the Coca Cola Bottling Company in Aberdeen, for over 20 years.  In 1964 he relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts where he worked for the City of  Springfield Dept. of Public Works as a sanitation worker until his retirement in 1998 at the age of 65.  He lived at 43 Villa Parkway with his cousin James and Rebecca Robinson who loved him and helped him enjoy his retirement.

Arlester was an avid church attendant for many years, in Aberdeen he sang on gospel radio programs on Sunday mornings while playing his accordion.  After moving to Springfield he continued his presence as a church visitor to many area churches and later became a member of St. Rachel's Fire Baptized Holiness Church located at 171 Eastern Avenue. 

Preceded in death by his Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother and many uncles, aunts and cousins, Arlester leaves to cherish is memory one Aunt Joanne Reeves of Marion, S.C.; many first cousins, Rebecca (and James) Robinson, Constant (and Jacqueline) Cooley, Edward Cooley all of Springfield, MA, Doris (and Robert) Jackson of Savannah, GA, Bessie Jones of Amityville, NY, Christine Patterson of TN, Mary Liddell of Pinebluff, AR, Vermanual (Fountain) Millhouse of Philadelphia, PA, Arthur Brooks Kemp of Raeford, NC, Horace Brown of Aberdeen, NC and many others.  The calling hour at Harrell Funeral Home is Tuesday, April 6, 2021 from 1-2p.m. followed by the funeral at 2:00.

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