Thomas Hicks Cooper

Thomas Hicks Cooper, a proud Navy veteran and true Charleston gentleman, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, at the age of 92.

Tom was born in Winston-Salem, NC, on June 9, 1934, to Vergil Mitchell and Rheba Hicks Cooper, who later moved to Charleston, SC. Tom’s southern roots began at Porter Military Academy and the University of South Carolina, where he was president of the ATO fraternity. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960, he built a distinguished career in the insurance industry. Following successful tenures at Connecticut General and Protective Life, and as a partner at Heffron, Ingle, McDowell & Cooper, he founded Thomas Cooper & Co. in 1972, which became the largest independent corporate benefits administration company in the state before his retirement in 2003.

Tom’s legacy extends beyond his professional success. His life was truly defined by devotion to his family, his cultural pursuits and civic leadership. He was active in Charleston’s arts community, serving as chairman of the Charleston Shakespeare Festival and dedicating time to the program committees of Spoleto Festival USA and the Gibbes Art Gallery. Tom was an avid collector of William Halsey’s art, and he treasured their friendship. He studied antique silver, furniture and architecture, while also harboring a lifelong love for World War II history, sports cars, and the enduring excitement of University of South Carolina football.

Tom served on the local board of BB&T Bank, as a Vestry member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, and since 2001 was an active supporter of Grace (Episcopal) Church Cathedral. Tom was a member of the Carolina Yacht Club.

He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife, Anne de la Morandière Cooper; his daughters, the Rev. Jenny C. Gettys of Gaffney, SC, and Katherine C. Kaderabek (Todd James Kaderabek) of Asheville, NC; two grandchildren, Thames Margaret Higginbotham (Ty) of Jackson, MS, and Miller Robert Kaderabek (Emily) of Oxford, MS; and two great-grandsons, Robert Tyrone Higginbotham IV and Theodore James Higginbotham of Jackson, MS. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Diane Cooper Byers; and his son-in-law, Miles Elijah Gettys III.

Anne and the family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Shem Creek Health Center in Mt. Pleasant; to Family Hospice of Charleston; and to the loving private caregivers who treated him like family, and helped spoil him these last years.

A memorial service celebrating Tom's life will be held at 2 P.M. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City. In lieu of flowers, donations to Grace Church Cathedral, 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401; or to The MUSC Storm Eye Institute Chief Resident’s Fund, 167 Ashley Avenue, MSC 676, Charleston, SC 29425, would be greatly appreciated.