Ann Cooley Epstein

Ann Cooley Epstein was born in New York City eight months before the end of World War I on April 14, 1918. She is the daughter of Samuel and Rose Cooley, who migrated to the U.S. from Russia in the late 1890's. At almost 108 years old, she is the last surviving child among her older siblings including two brothers (Alex and Harry Cooley and sister Ceilia C. Mann), whom she deeply cared for.

When Ann was an infant, The Cooley family moved from New York City to Savannah, Georgia, then subsequently to Hendersonville, North Carolina, where she resided and graduated from Hendersonville High School in 1934. In late 1938 she moved to Charleston, SC, and lived with her dear friends Madeline Karesh Cooley and Janis Karesh.

She loved living in Charleston where she worked as a secretary from 1938-1944 for a U.S. Naval department that built hospitals and schools. When her Naval supervisor, Mr. McMillian, was transferred to Columbia, S.C., he helped her find another secretarial job working for Carolina Shipping Company in Charleston, where she worked during WWII until 1946 or 1947. Ann met her husband, Alex Epstein, on a blind date that was set up by Rosalie and David Epstein, Alex's older brother and wife. Alex Epstein, now deceased, was a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina school of pharmacy and served in the U.S. Navy on the Submarine Chaser, Layte, in the South Pacific until the end of WWII. They kept in touch during his deployment and were married in Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1946 after his return.

She was a vivacious, loving housewife, a wonderful caring mother of two sons, and manager of the Charleston Cut-Rate Drug Store, owned by her and her husband. She is survived by two sons and their wives, Marc and Debbie of Charleston, SC, and Stephen and Gail of Ocala, FL, including her dear nephews and nieces Lowell and Barbara Epstein of Charleston, Myrna E. and Paul Cott of Atlanta, GA, and her dear caregiver Miss Sissy Bedenbough, who she loved deeply, among the many others that cared for her with an open heart. Amicable and quick with a joke, she touched the lives of all of her relatives, friends and acquaintances, who would say "she was just an amazing lady".

She passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 22, 2025. Her family and friends were able to spend sweet moments with her almost daily. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience, grace, and amazing strength. Her memory remains with us forever. A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at Emanu-El Cemetery (Maryville), Sycamore Ave., at 11:00 am.

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel.

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