87, a resident of 2111 Olde Brassfield Ln, died Sunday, August 19 at Granville Medical Center. He was the son of the late Tom Copeland and Sadie Perkins Copeland of Nansemond, VA. He was a retired Longshoreman.

He is survived by his wife, Karma "Rita" Bey Copeland ; two daughters, Patricia Copeland of Jamaica and Susan Copeland of Queens, NY; two sons, Thomas Copeland, Jr. (Karen) of Hiran, GA, and Robert Copeland (Lynn) of Fulton, Georgia; a step-son, Jamal Alston of Mersheim, Germany; three sisters, Minnie Holly and Edna Skeeter both of Suffolk, VA, and Gloria Deloatch of Portsmouth, VA; one brother, David Copeland (Lou) of California; seven grandchildren; and seventeen great grandchildren.

There will be no local services.