Artis Wayne Cooper

November 16, 1956 - April 11, 2022

Artis Wayne Cooper was born on November 16, 1956, in Milan, Georgia. He was a lifelong member of Collins Chapel C.M.E. Church in Milan. He attended Telfair High School in McRae, Georgia, and later, the University of New Orleans, where he met his loving wife, Denise Duronslet. Wayne was selected in the inaugural class of the University of New Orleans Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, the Louisiana Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in 2000. He was voted the No. 2 basketball player in school history by a panel of New Orleans basketball experts prior to the 2019-2020 season. Wayne was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1978, the beginning of a 14-season NBA playing career. He and Denise were married in New Orleans on April 11, 1980. Together they had three beautiful daughters: Courtney, Andrea and Lauren. Wayne’s family was the center of his universe, and he loved family vacations at the beach and visits to extended family in Louisiana and Georgia. His favorite pastime was long phone conversations with his buddies, retelling “the same old stories”. Wayne was a quiet humanitarian and philanthropist, preferring to help those in need in a direct and meaningful way. He actively supported the local community and was generous with his time and encouragement to many. After a successful on-court career with the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trailblazers, Wayne’s playing career ended in 1992. At the time of his retirement, Wayne was the Denver Nuggets' all-time blocked shots leader; today he remains third in franchise history. Following his playing career, Wayne served in the front office of the Portland Trailblazers, and later served as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Sacramento Kings for nearly two decades. He was an integral part of the brain trust that built the Kings’ late 1990s to early 2000s success. Wayne was twice named to Sports Illustrated’s list of the 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports. In 2005, he was chosen as one of the 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports by Black Enterprise. Wayne Cooper passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022, exactly forty-two years after his marriage to Denise. He is preceded in death by his mother Mamie Graham Cooper; his father Artis Cooper; and his brother, Isaiah Cooper. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife, Denise; their three daughters, Courtney (Justice), Andrea, and Lauren; his siblings, Shirley (Burney) Fluellen, Louis Carl (Isabelle) Cooper, Mary Joyce (Angus) Howard, and Alvin Cooper; along with a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends. Visitation and funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy, Decatur, GA 30034; 404-241-5656. Visitation will take place from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at our South DeKalb Chapel, followed by funeral services at 3:00 pm. DUE TO COVID-19 MASKS ARE REQUIRED IN OUR CHAPELS. Burial will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at the Sophia Graham Cemetery, 245 Bowen Padgett Rd, Milan, GA 31060. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Wayne Cooper to support: The National Kidney Foundation: https://www.kidney.org/honorwaynecooper or Emory Healthcare: https://together.emory.edu/givetodonatetotgefundforpatientandfamilycenteredsupport Fund for Patient and Family Centered Support or make checks payable to “Emory” and mail to Emory Healthcare, Office of Gift Accounting, 1762 Clifton Road NE, Ste. 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322-4001. Livestream: https://vimeo.com/event/1059691