Jennifer Leigh Cooper

Jennifer Leigh Cooper, 42, of Auburn, a beloved Wife, Mother, Daughter and Friend to so many, tragically passed away on November 18th, 2025, the day after her Birthday.  Jennifer’s life and impact on others will leave a legacy for years to come.

Jennifer was born November 17th, 1983, and raised in Memphis, TN by her loving parents Mark and Leigh Ann Merwin.  She attended Briarcrest Christian School where she played volleyball, softball and excelled in the classroom.  She accepted Christ as her Savior and followed in Baptism in the Summer of 1993.  She grew up attending Colonial Baptist Church, and later Bellevue Baptist Church.  Jennifer loved hearing the Word from Dr. Adrian Rogers and still listened to copies of his sermons everyday while she would get ready for work.

Jennifer attended Auburn University in the Fall of 2002.  During her time at Auburn, she not only continued to excel in the classroom, but she began her life’s mission of serving others as a Tigerette in the Tigerettes and Tiger Hosts organization.  She later met the love of her life, Patrick in 2003 through that same organization. 

Jennifer and Patrick married on August 20th, 2005, and started their life together in Fort Payne, AL where Jennifer taught school for 4 years.  The couple moved to Auburn in early 2010, shortly after giving birth to their first child Clay on November 23, 2009.   Jennifer and Patrick opened their first Gigi’s Cupcakes later that year.  The couple went on to expand the business to Montgomery, AL and Columbus, GA over the next three years.  They also gave birth to their second child, Cate on October 19th, 2015.   Jennifer served as the face of all their businesses until the day she went home to be with her Savior.  She was the heart and soul of Gigi’s Cupcakes and poured her life into the businesses.  She was a mentor and role-model to hundreds of young people that she employed through the years, and a dose of “Joy” to the many thousands of customers.  She always said, “A Cupcake to Us is a Life Moment to Someone Else”.  She took every chance she could to use the business as a platform to give to others.  So much so, that people even asked her how she could make a profit with giving so much.  That was Jennifer, a true Servant of the Lord. 

Jennifer touched the lives of all she encountered.  Her mission in life was to serve others, and she truly had a servant heart.  She instilled that same servant heart into the lives of her children that she loved so dearly.  She always told her children to “never let anyone or anything steal your joy”.  Jennifer loved the Lord and took every opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who didn’t know him.  She loved her church (First Baptist Church of Opelika) where she actively led the Women’s Ministry Team and served in numerous other areas of the Church including the guest reception on Sunday mornings.  She had recently joined an organization called Storytellers Live that gives everyday women the opportunity to share stories of the hope found in Jesus. 

Jennifer loved spending time with her Family and Friends.  Whether it was tailgating on Fall Saturdays to cheer on her Auburn Tigers, traveling to the beach, or just relaxing at home watching movies, she found peace and comfort in being with the ones she loved so dearly. 

“Joy is Happiness not based on Circumstances”- Jennifer Cooper

Jennifer was preceded in death by her father Hershel Mark Merwin, paternal grandfather Paul Merwin, maternal grandparents Chester and Doris Fraley and Uncle Mike Fraley.  She is survived by her spouse, James Patrick Cooper, children Clayton Mark and Catherine Leigh Cooper, mother Leigh Ann Merwin, paternal grandmother Gwendolyn Merwin, and Uncle Jerome Merwin. 

Services for Jennifer will begin with visitation from 11:00-2:00 at First Baptist Church in Opelika on Tuesday, November 25th.  A Celebration of Her Life will begin at 2:00 with a Graveside Service to follow at Town Creek Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to StoryTellers Live in Memory of Jennifer at https://www.storytellerslive.org/jennifercooper