Jewel Alicia Cooper Monroe Groff, 93, left us to join her savior, Jesus Christ, on September 7, 2016, at her home that she shared with her husband of 13 years, Charles B. Groff, in Sidney, NY.

Jewel was a devout Christian who lived each day in anticipation of spending eternity in heaven. Born December 31, 1922, in Moultrie, Georgia, she was the much beloved daughter of the late Francis Marion Cooper and Myrtle Nioma (Fuller) Cooper. Jewel spent most of her adult life in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she raised 5 wonderful children. For most of Jewel's adult life, she was a member of Westside Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she taught Sunday School and was an active member of the congregation. Upon moving north to Sidney, NY at the age of 80, she soon found a new church family and moved her letter of membership to Sidney Bible Baptist Church.

As a young mother, Jewel was a Boy Scout den mother and Girl Scout and 4H leader. Her many talents included decorating and caring for her home, seamstress, which she took great pride in sewing clothes for her children, grandchildren and herself. She always challenged herself to keep up with the latest styles and trends. Later in life she expanded this talent to quilting, which allowed her to design and make quilts for her family. Jewel was also an avid gardener, truly amazed at God's miracle of rebirth each season when her gardens would come to life. She enjoyed sharing her love of gardening with everyone she came in contact with.

Jewel was deeply loved by her family and she loved them dearly in return. She is survived by her husband Charles B. Groff; son, William McCall Monroe; daughters Barbara Ann (Monroe) McClellan and husband Steve McClellan, Rebecca Lynn (Monroe) Freeman and husband Troy Freeman, Bridgette Ellen (Monroe) Studley and husband William Studley; son Brandon Mark Monroe and wife Cornelia (Webb) Monroe. Grandchildren Scarlette Alicia (O'Connor) Merfeld, Thomas Edward O'Connor, Jr., William Patrick Cooper O'Connor, Samantha Lee (Curtain) Warren, Charles Terry Newton, Laura Michelle (Newton) Hall, Jay Alan Edman, Jr., William Judsten Studley, Brett Erin (Studley) LeClair, Wade Adam Studley, Matthew Derry Monroe, Stephen Cornelius Monroe, William Robert Monroe, Tammy Brooks, Tabatha Story, along with 27 great grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren; sisters Carolynne Cooper Holcomb Leasure, Mary Cooper Fowler and brother Richard Cooper.

Jewel is predeceased by her parents; husband of 58 years, William Robert Monroe, Jr,; sister Martha (Cooper) Lawson, brothers Alan Cooper and James Cooper, son-in-law Thomas Edward O'Connor, Sr and daughter-in-law Nancy Gail Monroe.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Sidney Bible Baptist Church, 32 West Main Street, Sidney, NY and interment will immediately follow in Schenevus, NY.



For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

Philippians 3:20-4:1