Family shares legacy of Buddy Cooper, school bus driver who died after crash

RANKIN CO., Miss. — The family of Alex “Buddy” Cooper is speaking publicly for the first time since he died after a crash while driving a school bus in Rankin County, sharing what drove his legacy beyond portraying Santa Claus for children in need and troops.

Buddy Cooper’s son, Gabe Cooper, said his father bonded with people wherever he went to lift everyone. It was part of his calling to serve others for his religious purposes.

Gabe Cooper noticed time away from serving children in need took a toll on his father after the holiday seasons passed.

“He would always spend time with sick kids over the holidays,” Gabe Cooper said. “So, come January when his time was over, he would shave the beard and take off the outfit, it would kind of send him into a depression.”

For more than a decade, Buddy Cooper treated the children of Harbor Day School to Christmas celebrations.

“He would always tell our families every year at our Christmas parties, ‘My God don’t make no junk,’” said Frances Patterson, executive director. “He would tell our families you were specially chosen to have the gift of a child with special needs.”

“He really always had a way with kids to connect with them on their level,” Gabe Cooper said.

Buddy Cooper’s connection to Jesus fueled his drive to serve others, Gabe Cooper said.

“It doesn’t take a perfect vessel to fulfill God’s will,” Gabe Cooper said. “Anybody can do it; you just have to have faith and do what you’re led to do and be bold about it.”

Patterson said Buddy Cooper told his family on his death bed to request donations for Harbor Day School instead of accepting gifts in his honor to ensure children with special needs are still taken care of. The school has opened a memorial donation portal on its website.

“Buddy had requested all donations be for our program and school,” Patterson said. “Literally in the last hours of his life, Gabe said he mentioned you guys twice and how imperative it is that people give. I think that’s his legacy.”

The Cooper family will hold a celebration of life Saturday at First Baptist of Florence Church, 102 E. Main St., Florence. The service will be livestreamed from the church.

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