Etweda Cooper was born in Edina, into an elite family descended from freed slaves who left the United States for Liberia in the 1800s.
[10][11][12] In 1998, Cooper was briefly arrested by the Liberia National Police after denouncing the murder of a woman at the hands of security forces.
[5] Cooper appears in the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell about women's role in the Liberian peace process.
[19][20] In April 2010, Cooper was elected mayor of her hometown, Edina, which she aimed to turn into an eco-friendly, safe town that attracts tourists.
[1][4][7] In 2012, she was appointed superintendent of Grand Bassa County by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and confirmed by the Liberian Senate.