Lauren Anna Scott and Benjamin Taylor Ross were united in marriage at six o’clock in the evening on Saturday, June 21, 2008. The ceremony was held at the First United Methodist Church in Sylvania and was performed by the Rev. Sonny Mason.
    The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Leslie Cooper Jr. of Simpsonville, S.C., and the granddaughter of the late Leslie Thompson and Mrs. Barbara Thompson of Sylvania and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Leslie Cooper Sr. of Fountain Inn, S.C.
    The groom is the son of Ms. Kathy Walker of Richmond Hill and Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Ross of Sylvania. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Walker and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Walker of Jesup.
    Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore a satin organza gown with embroidery and butterfly shirring on the strapless bodice that met a dropped empire waistline and flowed into an A-line skirt and chapel-length train. She wore a cathedral-length chiffon veil and carried a hand-tied bouquet of soft pink and cream roses accented with sweet pea and tied with the wedding rings of her grandparents and great-grandparents.
    The bride chose her sister, Lacey Cooper, to serve as maid of honor and Heather Smoak as matron of honor. Bridesmaids included Emily Aaron and Jenny Janney of Statesboro, Dru McBride of Sylvania, Caroline Sellers of Atlanta and Kelly Brizendine of Houston, Texas. Lindsey Thompson of Sylvania served as junior bridesmaid. They wore floor-length V-neck dresses in chartreuse green taffeta and carried bouquets of pink and green flowers.
    Sonny Ross, father of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen included Justin Janney and Les Collins of Statesboro, Allen Daley of Vidalia, Warren McCorvey of Jesup, Matt Ross of Athens and Josh Johnson of Aspen, Colo.
    Ushers included Macay McBride, Josh Oglesby, Tyler McCabe and Stephen Fitzner of Sylvania and Justin Johnson of Atlanta. Junior ushers were Austin Thompson of Sylvania and Griffin Walker of Statesboro.
    Emorie Holland of Augusta and Sophie Fender of Jesup, cousins of the groom, served as flower girls. Creek Bazemore and Jacob Bazemore of Sylvania, family friends of the bride, served as ring bearers.
    Music was provided by Candy Sheppard, organist; Katee Johnson, pianist; Matthew Kersey and Hays Jones, vocalists.
    Following the ceremony, Leslie and Lesley Cooper, parents of the bride, hosted a reception at the Robbins Nest in Statesboro.
    The couple honeymooned on Bequa Island, Fiji, and now makes their home in Statesboro.