Under the soft glow of the evening sun, Friday, June 6, the University of the Virgin Islands formally renamed its St. Thomas tennis facility the Fenella A. Cooper Tennis Complex — a heartfelt tribute to a woman whose impact stretched far beyond the court.
The dedication united lawmakers, family, friends and community members to celebrate an athlete, coach and educator who invested over 30 years in tennis, advancing the game and supporting those who played it. Tennis coach Terrance Jacobs served as master of ceremonies, guiding the program with reverence and warmth.
The renaming followed the enactment of Act No. 8816 (Bill No. 35-0107) by the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, signed into law by Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. More than a ceremonial gesture, this act created a permanent reminder of Cooper’s selfless contributions to education, athletics, and culture in the Virgin Islands and beyond.
Speakers included Sen. Marvin Blyden; Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach; UVI President Safiya George; Cooper’s granddaughter, Sonayah Charles and husband, Vincent Cooper, who delivered one of the evening’s most personal tributes.
“She won her very first tennis match on that far court,” he recounted.
That match, played over four decades ago, sparked a lifelong dedication to the sport. Cooper devoted her life to tennis as a player, coach and mentor. She served as the inaugural coach of the UVI NCAA Women’s Tennis Team and a long-standing member of the Virgin Islands Tennis Association, United States Tennis Association and American Tennis Association. She also earned multiple honors as the Virgin Islands Daily News’ “Coca-Cola Player of the Week” and placed second in the 65-and-over mixed doubles division at the 2018 ATA National Championships. Off the court, she led tennis workshops, training youth and adults across the Virgin Islands, Caribbean and United States.
Cooper was also inducted into the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the UVI Buccaneers Hall of Fame in 2021 for her contributions to sports and education.
Vincent Cooper praised his wife’s “creative concentration,” sharing stories of how she would fluster opponents with her quick thinking and nontraditional technique. He continued, proudly, “She never received any formal training. But whatever she had, she used it to the max.” Despite her countless honors and achievements, Cooper most admired his wife’s humility, adding, “She never seemed interested in being the star.”
Noreen Michael, former commissioner of the V.I. Housing Authority and former commissioner of the V.I. Education Department, echoed Cooper’s sentiments. A former student of Vincent Cooper at the College of the Virgin Islands in the 1970s, she emphasized the late honoree’s long-standing dedication to youth development with no desire for recognition. “It’s heartening to see this acknowledgment of a woman who gave so much to her community.”
In his closing remarks, Cooper made a heartfelt plea to attendees not to overlook or disregard youth who seem quiet or disinterested in sports. “Sometimes they just need someone to help break them out of their shells. Fenella was one of those.”
“I would love to see these courts become a hub for local youth,” Michael agreed. She added that a youth tennis program could be just the catalyst many children need to explore new interests and possibilities, offering structure, mentorship and exposure to a sport that may otherwise feel inaccessible.
With the unveiling of its new name, the Fenella A. Cooper Tennis Complex becomes more than a place to host matches, but a spark to carry Cooper’s vision forward.
St. Croix Source
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