Louis Copeland

Elder Louis Copeland passed away peacefully on January 25, 2021 in Columbus, GA. He was 92. Born on April 4, 1928 in Margaret, AL, he was the second son of Bobby and Sarah Copeland. After graduating Parker High School in Birmingham in 1946, he and his brother Bobby Jr. relocated to Youngstown, Ohio and found employment at Republic Steel. In 1948, he married Gloria Cecil and in 1952 they moved to Toledo, OH. This union was blessed with four children. In Toledo, he was employed by Phillips Bottle Gas and later Fiske Brothers Oil Refinery. A lifelong learner, Louis studied Computer Science and Psychology at the University of Toledo. In 1973, he married Marie Thomas who passed away in 1987. The Lord did not wish for him to be alone and on February 14, 1988, he and Barbara Bowen were married. After his retirement in 1994, they moved to Shiloh to their country home. His deep abiding faith in the Lord was evident in his ministry in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Toledo (OH), Columbus and Talbotton (GA). It was in Talbotton that he along with other faithful believers started a ministry which later became the Greater Unity SDA Church. Louis met no strangers. Everyone was greeted with a warm smile, empathetic heart, and a willing hand to help. In addition to being a prodigious intellect, he was gifted with artistic talent and not one, but two green thumbs. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bobby and Sarah Copeland; his brothers: Bobby Jr, Willie, and Henry Copeland; his sisters: Bernice Copeland Thomas and Alma Copeland Zanders. He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years - Barbara; his children: Ronald (Conchita) Copeland of Dover(DE), Aleshia Copeland Williams of Ambridge(PA), Vincent (Betty) Copeland of Burlington(IA), Erik (Trina)Copeland of Riverview(FL), and stepdaughter, Ivory (Darryl) Dorsey of New York(NY); brother-in-law, Clarence Zanders of Omaha(NE); sister-in-law, Wanda Copeland of Troy(MI); 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Psalm 143:8

In lieu of a face-to-face service, a virtual Celebration of Life will be held via Zoom; family and friends will be notified.