Who Was William A. Cooper? (Coral Gables Black History Spotlight)

 

William A. Cooper was born in 1929 in Coconut Grove to Bahamian immigrants. He was a graduate of George Washington Carver High School and attended Saint Augustine’s College.

Cooper went on to become a significant figure in Coral Gables history. He and his wife, Leona Cooper Baker, became civic leaders while juggling careers and family. Cooper cofounded the Lola B. Walker Homeowners’ Association, an organization which sought to improve and preserve Coral Gables’ MacFarlane Homestead district, the only predominantly Black neighborhood in Coral Gables. Due to their efforts, the MacFarlane subdivision was designated a U.S. Historic District in May 1994.

In honor of Cooper’s service to the community, the green space at the corner of Grand Avenue and Washington Drive was named William A. Cooper Park, and was later renamed William & Leona Cooper Park.

 

Photo Courtesy of the City of Coral Gables

Story Courtesy of the City of Coral Gables

Date Posted: February 12, 2025