Elizabeth May Cooper married Richard Sparks on July 7, 1812 in Silver Creek, Marion Co., MS. Their marriage is the 2nd marriage recorded in Marriage Book A of Marion Co., MS. Her parents were Rev. William Cooper Sr. and Elizabeth Scott of Sampson Co., NC. The Cooper Family moved from NC probably after the death of her mother. Rev. William Cooper Sr. was the son of Rev. Fleet Cooper Sr. and brother of Rev. Fleet Cooper Jr.-all prominent Baptist Ministers of their time. Elizabeth's father became Moderator of the Pearl River Baptist Association in MS shortly after the family's arrival. William Sparks and wife, Mary Polly Fielder, were members of the old Silver Creek Baptist Church as was their eldest son, Richard. No doubt the families became acquainted through their association with the early Baptist Church in the area. Richard and Elizabeth made several moves through MS prior to removing to San Augustine Co., TX for a short stay and finally settling in the Sparks Compound in what would become Nacogdoches, TX. Richard was a land surveyor, eventually acquiring over 50,000 acres prior to his death in March 1838 when he was killed by Indians while leading a surveying party in what would become Navarro Co., TX. After his death, wife Elizabeth was left with the daunting task of overseeing his vast estate in various parts of the Republic of Texas and raising her children. She and Rev. James L. Bryant were named Executors of her husband's estate. In failing health, she wrote her will on 20 December 1847. She died 1 January 1848 and was laid to rest in the Old North Baptist Church Cemetery. Husband Richard had donated five acres on which to build this first Baptist Church in Texas and five acres was given to the Old Liberty School.