A Mississippi school community is rallying around a man many children know simply as “Santa” after a violent school bus crash left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Family members, parents and former coworkers say 79-year-old Alex “Buddy” Cooper remains in critical condition following Monday’s crash involving an 18-wheeler on Highway 49 near Eagle Post Road.
Cooper is known throughout the Harbour Day School community for volunteering as Santa Claus for children with special needs.
Parents say his visits created lasting memories for students and families.
“Lane loved to sit in Santa’s lap, and he made him laugh, and we got the cutest picture of him smiling with him,” parent Brittany Story said about her 4-year-old son.
Story said her son, who attends the school, treasures his yearly visits with Cooper. She said it is difficult knowing this could be the last year her child would have had the chance to see him as Santa.
Former school employee Tammy Tadlock said she first brought Cooper in as the school’s volunteer Santa about 15 years ago.
“Our school is a preschool for children with special needs, and so it takes a different personality to get through to some of these kids. But Buddy is the real deal,” Tadlock said.
Tadlock described Cooper as a veteran, former law enforcement officer and someone deeply committed to serving children and families.
“To hear news like that is like, oh my gosh — it’s devastating,” she said.
Friends and families say they are now praying for Cooper’s healing and recovery as support continues pouring in from across the community.
“We trust God in the healing of Buddy, and we just pray for all the people that he’s touched, that he knows how well loved he is,” Tadlock said.
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