Scholarship Honors a Legacy of Service

Through a $50,000 gift to the University of Mississippi, the post has established the Abner W. Cooper Memorial Post 27 of the American Legion Endowment, designed to provide scholarships for generations of students.

As membership in the rural post has dwindled, its remaining members recognized an opportunity to ensure their resources would continue making a difference.

"We wanted to put these funds to use in a way that would last," said Tim Lea, the post's commander. "With our ties to Ole Miss and the strong connection to Lawrence County, Mississippi, establishing an endowed scholarship felt like the right way to carry our legacy forward."

The scholarship will prioritize full-time students in good academic standing, with preference given first to those from Lawrence County who have military connections, either through their own service or that of a family member. A second level of preference extends to other students from the county.

"Their generosity honors a remarkable legacy of service and sacrifice while creating new opportunities for students, especially those with military ties, to pursue an Ole Miss education," said Wendell W. Weakley, president and CEO of the UM Foundation. "This endowment ensures that the values exemplified by Abner W. Cooper will continue to inspire and uplift future generations."

For Post 27, that military connection is essential. The only active military-related organization in Lawrence County, it has long served as a steward of local service traditions.

"We've seen something remarkable happen when students apply for these scholarships," Lea said. "They start to discover and take pride in their own family's military history. In a way, those legacies are being rediscovered and renewed."

At the heart of the endowment is the story of Abner W. Cooper himself. A young man from Lawrence County, Cooper enlisted in the Army after the United States entered World War I in 1917. Serving in the 28th Infantry Regiment under General John Pershing, he wrote home often, expressing concern for his family and hope for peace.

In May 1918, during the Battle of Cantigny, the first major American offensive of the war, Cooper was wounded but continued fighting until he was killed at just 18 years old. He became the first World War I casualty from his county.

His sacrifice left a lasting mark on the community. In 1920, local veterans formed an American Legion post in his name, ensuring his story would not be forgotten. After periods of inactivity, renewed interest led to the post's reactivation in 2014 and its formal naming as the Abner W. Cooper Memorial Post 27.

Post 27 has played a vital role in honoring veterans and strengthening community ties, hosting Veterans Day observances, participating in Wreaths Across America, supporting JROTC programs and recognizing outstanding educators and firefighters.

Through this endowment, the post adds education to its enduring impact.

"Above all, we hope this gift preserves Abner Cooper's legacy while helping students from our community pursue their education," Lea said. "It's about remembering the past and investing in the future."

The Abner W. Cooper Memorial Post 27 of the American Legion Endowment is open to receive gifts from individuals and organizations. To contribute, send a check with the fund noted to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655, or give online here.

For more information, contact Brett Barefoot at bmbarefo@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2711.

Top: Anna Langley (left), vice president of the University of Mississippi Foundation, and Jeremee J. Alexander (right), director of the university's Office of Veteran and Military Services, welcome Tim Lea, commander of the Abner W. Cooper Memorial Post 27 of the American Legion, to the Ole Miss campus. The post has given $50,000 to endow a scholarship for students from Lawrence County, with preference to those with military ties. Photo by Liza Jackson/UM Development