W.T. Shumake & Daughters

September 1, 1954 - July 10, 2026

Rev. Aprile Denise Copper, 71, of Louisville transitioned on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Visitation 11-1 Saturday, July 18, 2026 at First Congregational Methodist Church 3810 Garland Avenue Louisville, Kentucky 40211. Funeral to follow at 1pm.

Aprile Denise Cooper entered this world on September 1, 1954, born to the union of Earle Randolph Sutton and Mary Frances Sutton. Affectionately known as “Nina” by her family, she was the fifth of ten children.

Aprile was among the first to be baptized in the newly built First Congregational Methodist Church. She gave her life to Christ as she walked down the aisle to “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” and she never turned back.

Aprile attended Jefferson County Public Schools and was an active and proud member of Shawnee High School’s Class of 1972. She was known for her athleticism, her cheerleading spirit, and her unforgettable sense of humor, earning the title “Most Humorous.”

Aprile graduated from Spencerian College, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Jefferson Community College. She deeply valued education and made it a priority in the lives of her three daughters and grandchildren.

In 1985, she preached her trial sermon at First Congregational Methodist Church under the leadership of Rev. Robert Lee Sr. In 2024, she preached her final sermon from that same pulpit. For more than 40 years, she served faithfully as a dedicated member of the church’s ministerial staff.

Although she worked for the City of Louisville and retired from Presbyterian Church (USA), Aprile would say that her most meaningful work was giving communion to the sick and shut-in, participating in outreach ministries, volunteering with the Crisis Hotline, teaching youth, and hosting her online series, “Hanging with Rev. Cooper.”

Aprile lived a wonderfully full life marked by faith, activism, preaching, and love for her family. From family reunions and Sunday dinners to lively games of Phase 10 and watching her favorite shows with her grandchildren, she cherished every moment spent together.

Basketball and football were among her favorite sports, and she was especially fond of the University of Louisville Cardinals. She was a constant and enthusiastic presence at her grandchildren’s sporting events and activities, cheering them on with pride.

Aprile’s tremendous faith allowed her to depart this life on July 10, 2026, with the assurance that she was ready for her eternal home in Heaven.

Aprile was preceded in death by her parents; her oldest brother, Michael; and her three grandsons, Damon, Joseph Jr., and Aaron.

She leaves to cherish her memory her three daughters: Rashawn (Sohn) Hester-White, Tiffany White-Diaz, and Natalie White; her siblings: Bonita Henderson, Sherry (Kenneth) Woods, Greg (Brenda) Sutton, her twin, Ava Sutton, Camille Gore, Carmen Crosson, Melanie (Ronnie) Fisher, and Earle “Randy” (Rose) Sutton; her cherished grandchildren Dominique (Quab) Asamoah, Damion Hayes, Nehemiah Wright, Kennedy Hampton, Quentin White, Mia Diaz, Joshua Diaz, Nathan Wright, and Leriyah Toure.