Elder Hilton “Helen” Howe Cooper was born in Florence, South Carolina to religious parents and worked in the field alongside her brothers, sisters, family, and friends. She was raised in a Christian Home by the Late Reverend Hennigan Howe, Sr., Climmae Leaf Howe, Grandparents Jettie Corbett Howe, Lide Howe, and Stepmother Laura McKenzie Howe. There are ten surviving siblings out of fourteen. Elder Cooper is married to James E. Cooper from Brooklyn, New York, and has two daughters, and two grandchildren. Elder Cooper grew up in the Fairmount Park area of West Philadelphia, PA. She earned her B.A. Degree in Sociology from Benedict College in Columbia, SC, B.A. Degree in Accounting from Columbia College in Columbia, SC, and Master’s in Business Administration Degree (MBA) from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. She has received her Ph.D. in Christian Counseling from Newburgh Theological Seminary. She was called into the ministry at the early age of thirteen.

She serves in many capacities for the United Free Will Baptist International Conference and Savannah Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Coward, SC. She is the founder and co-organizer for the Christian Women’s Organization – “Women in Robes”. Elder Cooper has served and is serving on several Boards and received Community Awards for her committed community services. She is a proud member of the Florence Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., OES Chapter 237, Olanta, SC, Life member of the National Council of Negro Women, and Life Member of Benedict College Alumni Association to name a few. She is a retired State Employee and currently works for James R. Clark Sickle Cell Foundation. Pastor Cooper’s inspirational scripture is Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”.