Tag: Emily Cooley

Finding blessing amid overwhelming loss

November 15, 2025 Zach Cooley No Comments

Personally, this year has been one of the worst of my life, as I have suffered the greatest loss I have ever had to endure. My father departed this world on October 26th, one day after his 83rd birthday. I am profoundly grateful for his life and for all the things that were shared between us—things that ensured nothing was left undone in our relationship by the time he left this world. However, with the most profound of losses come the greatest blessings in the outpouring of love and condolences my family and I have received over the last month. First of all, I want to thank Shirley Mooney and the wonderful folks at Coal Creek Community Church in Galax, who provided us with a beautiful place to hold his celebration of life and the catered reception afterward. My most sincere thanks also go to the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, whose Honor Guard gave Dad the most beautiful military send-off I have ever witnessed. I am eternally grateful to my friends on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors—Stacy Terry and Chairman Brian W. Vaught—for facilitating and decreeing that the Wythe County flag in front of the courthouse be lowered to half-staff on the day before his funeral. That courthouse holds many memories for me, as I often accompanied my dad to work during his years as Chief Deputy of the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office. My dad’s devotion to Wythe County, to every community he served throughout Southwest Virginia, and to High Point, North Carolina, made each of those places better because of his 45 years of duty as a police officer and, most notably, as a police chief in the towns of Pulaski and Vinton. The lowering of the flag was one of the greatest honors bestowed upon his legacy, and it is a gesture our family will always hold dear. Brian—better known as “Cheese” to his friends—even purchased a copy of Herb Cooley: The Law Enforcement Legacy of my Father, the book I wrote in 2016, and placed it in the Sheriff’s Office display case beside other photos of my Dad and his “Elect Herb Cooley” pencil from his 1991 campaign for Wythe County Clerk of Court. That honor meant more to me than I can articulate. I also express my thanks to Mark Sage, Curtis Hawkins, Debbie Adams, Mike Williams, Jimmy Tomlin, and especially Lindsey Cook of WDBJ7, for their newspaper and television coverage of Dad’s legacy. The day I truly grieve will be the day people forget the sacrifices Herb Cooley made to keep the communities he served as safe as possible. The initiatives he instituted continue to help these communities thrive today. So many personal friends have been extraordinarily generous in their kindness toward our family. My dear friends at the Wytheville Moose Lodge #394—of which I am proud to be a member—sent us a beautiful bouquet, and a beautiful card engraved in gold. Jennifer Bilbrey, Elizabeth Paradise, Cindy Fields, Sandra Carty, Teny Underwood, and Anne B. Crockett-Stark all sent money, food, or flowers to our home—a gesture that means more than I can ever express. My very best friends, though, are the people who showed up to my father’s funeral specifically on my behalf: Jacob Sharitz, and Mr. and Mrs. Greg Taylor. Their support throughout this entire ordeal—indeed, throughout my entire life—is one of the greatest blessings I can claim. This does not diminish the hundreds, if not thousands, of condolences I have received in cards, Facebook comments, messages, and heartfelt words from people all over the area who took the time to tell me how much my dad meant to them. I may not have had the opportunity to personally acknowledge every message, but none of them were lost on me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Even more than these wonderful friends, I am most thankful for the two people on this earth who see me as I truly am—beyond my mangled frame and wheelchair-bound body: my wife, Emily, and my daughter, Bella. Their devotion to me is more than anyone could ever deserve or repay. They are the reasons I can wake in the morning and sleep peacefully at night, knowing I have a life worth living. It is worth living because God placed these two angels in my life. My wife battles many of her own afflictions, including complex PTSD from past trauma and non-compaction cardiomyopathy, yet she is the sole caregiver of an immobile husband with cerebral palsy—one who cannot help her clean the house, buy groceries, or drive our daughter to school. She does all of this and infinitely more, often at the cost of her own physical and mental well-being. There are no words for how much this woman means to me or how precious she is in my sight. My daughter is equally kindhearted and strong in spirit, with the ability to say some of the wisest things I have ever heard from any human being, despite being only eleven years old. She is the joy of our lives and the happiness in my soul each and every day. She makes my broken, blackened heart shimmer with specks of gold. My mother and sister—two women who always brought magic into my life—are now suffering in ways I cannot ease. This year, my sister and I both lost our dogs. Tucker, a Cotoń de Tulear, and Sophie, a Bichon Frise, were not pets; they were our babies. Sophie was my daughter’s sister. And to anyone who dismisses the loss of an animal as mild, I pity that they have never known the kind of love we experienced from our white, fluffy monkeys. They died within a month of each other this past winter at the age of 14, having been with us most of their lives. My dad loved his grand-puppies, and they adored their “Pop.” I know they greeted him at the gates of Heaven, along with his parents and his brother…

Strictly Observing

Emily Cooley honors rock queen at Chautauqua

June 26, 2025 Zach Cooley No Comments

There are very few days in my life as good as Friday, June 25th. At noon, I had the pleasure of proudly watching my wife pay tribute to the Queen of Rock and Roll in an hour-long program showcasing Tina Turner’s heaviest rock songs. She had performed this program last year at the Wytheville Moose Lodge, but being invited this year to the Chautauqua Festival marked a new career highlight. The upper shelter of Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park in Wytheville was flooded with a stadium-quality rock show. Unfortunately, only a few were there to witness it in person. Several who did attend inquired where Emily might be from. When we replied that she lived just down the street, spectators shook their heads. “You just don’t know what kind of talent you have right here at home,” one man said. “It’s just unbelievable.” No truer statement was ever spoken. The handful of people who were smart enough to show up provided Emily with a wonderful energy—an energy she gave back to the audience one hundredfold. “You wore me out,” said our lifelong friend Teny Underwood, the retired deputy sheriff who plays bluegrass music for various churches and nursing homes. “I don’t know how you’re still standing,” said another dear friend, Ann Harrison. “I would’ve been passed out!” Those are the kinds of compliments Emily has waited all her life to hear. She has always wanted to be recognized for the kind of energy her idol exuded. Knowing that Tina Turner made me feel that way when I saw her in concert 28 years ago, Emily knew that’s how she wanted her audiences to feel, too. It was a deeply rewarding experience—but none more so than for the listener. Hearing her enormously powerful voice echo through professional, first-class speakers was like hearing her in the stadium she dreams of filling. It was a full-fledged rock show. Donned in a gorgeous pink dress—reminiscent of a cross between Cass Elliott and Barbara Eden—and glittery silver shoes that looked like they came straight from the Wizard of Oz book, her moves were fluid, full, and rich. This was especially true during numbers that called for dramatic flair, like the Gypsy Acid Queen from Tommy, the rock opera by The Who. That role, of course, marked Tina Turner’s own breakout into rock—and helped her break through the barrier she had always dreamed of. This performance felt like no less a breakthrough for my wife, who is steadily stepping into those same shoes. Blessed with perfect pitch and an alto voice, Emily has always wanted to sing rock songs—songs full of positive energy and joy. She got to play another exciting role when she performed the theme from GoldenEye, the 1995 James Bond film starring Pierce Brosnan, which anchored Tina Turner’s Wildest Dreams album the following year. Emily performed a couple more tracks from that record, including “Do What You Do” and “Whatever You Want”—the latter of which she dedicated to me, solidifying for everyone in the audience that the beautiful girl on stage was mine and mine alone. I have never been prouder. Our little girl, 11-year-old Bella, was equally proud of her mama. “You were so beautiful,” she gushed when Emily came offstage. “You sounded perfect!” Bella is our biggest encourager in everything we set out to do, and we love her with all our hearts—for the wonderful young woman she’s becoming, and for the light and blessing she brings to the world. Though there were 16 songs in Emily’s repertoire, the hour flew by, and she had to cut the last three or four. She opened with Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” famously covered on Tina Turner’s Acid Queen album in 1976, and bantered playfully with the audience. “If you see Robert,” she said, referring to Led Zeppelin’s lead singer, “tell him I send a whole lotta love.” She also gave a nod to Phil Collins who played drums on “Girls,” a David Bowie composition from Tina’s 1986 Break Every Rule album, as well as a favorite Beatle before performing “Get Back” in Tina’s raucous style. “Paul McCartney just turned 83,” she said. “And he’s still out there killing it every night.” These are the kinds of legends Emily dreams of performing alongside. But unlike most dreamers, she has the talent to make it real. Having her own band would be a dream come true—but until then, she continues to wow audiences, big or small, with an incomparable voice that seems to come from another realm. We had a couple of very special guests in the audience that day to whom we owe tremendous gratitude. Locally renowned photographer and videographer—and my dear friend—Cory Parker was on hand to capture the event with his magic lenses. Another of our dearest friends, Sarah Taylor (who also happens to be our unofficial public relations agent), was there to film and spread a collection of photos and videos across social media. Famed Wytheville photographer Madeline Lenore also attended to see her friend. “She sounds great and looks terrific,” she told me. “That is the perfect dress for her.” We are also eternally grateful to Karen Melton, chairman of the Wythe Arts Council, for inviting Emily to be a part of our cherished hometown festival. She’s already invited her back to perform next year—and Emily gladly accepted. I can hardly wait to see the rock and roll extravaganza my wife will present next time. May she receive the recognition and opportunities she deserves to share her tremendous gift with the world. As her husband and biggest fan, I can tell you: there’s no greater blessing to be offered.

Strictly Observing