Rita Louise Cooper Lucas, 80, of Hanahan, SC, passed away on January 21, 2024 in the company of her family.

Rita was born on August 25, 1943 to Norene and Ivey Cooper in Thomasville, GA. She attended Port St. Joe High School (FL) where she was on the drill team, the annual staff, and a member of the National Honor Society, graduating in 1961.

Following high school, she attended business school in Macon, GA. In 1962, she married MCPO Stephen L. Lucas, USN (Ret.), settling in Hanahan, SC, with their two children, Kim and Brandon Lucas.

Rita was best known for her immense well of creativity. She was a talented artist, her designs adorning everything from furniture to a vast collection of intricately painted rocks, bearing finely detailed natural themes such as plants, animals, fruits and vegetables, and even the tiniest of insects. She was an accomplished cook and baker, making and decorating numerous cakes with intricate detail for birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings. Most notably, she was the author of three books: “For Crying Out Loud” (2019), “Eye to Eye, Heart to Heart, Skin to Skin” (2021), and “Rocks and Rhymes,” (2024).

Rita’s creativity extended to her garden, her home, and her approach to life. It seems there was nothing she couldn’t sew or grow. Every challenge was met with a unique, creative solution, a trait which allowed her to live independently for over eight years following a stroke. She will be remembered by her determination, eye for detail, and sense of humor.

She is survived by her children, Kim Lucas and husband, Stein Kosi; a son Brandon Lucas and wife, Danielle; three grandchildren, Jeremy and wife, Jessicka, and sisters, Ruby, and Ivey; great-grandchildren, Marilyn and Sawyer; sister Sonia Cooper Minors and spouse, Col. Steven Richards, niece Lauren Minors and husband, Paul R. Massengill, III.

Her memory will live on through her family, her art, and her poetry.

“When all is said and done, my friend,

When life reaches its dwindling end,

It’s good to leave a foot print small,

To show we were HERE after all !”

A private celebration of life is being planned by the family.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at http://www.jhenrystuhr.com.