The North Georgia News

Blairsville, GA  30512

www.nganews.com

(no corrections have been made; this is exactly as it appeared in paper)

June 5, 2002                  Page 5B

mr. gerald wayne copeland

Mr. Gerald Wayne Copeland, age 58, of Sawmill Road, Blairsville passed away on Friday, may 31, 2002 in the MCG Hospital in Augusta following a brief illness.  Mr. Copeland was born on June 8, 1943 in Douglasville, GA, the son of the late Robert L. Copeland and Louise Bragg Copeland.  Mr. Copeland was the former owner of Wayne’s Wholesale Cars of Blairsville.  He was a member of the Liberty Baptist Church.

Surviving Mr. Copeland are his loving wife of forty years, Sandra Kay Wood Copeland of Blairsville; one daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Louie Blasingame of Blairsville; two sons and daughter-in-laws, Richard and Sheryl Copeland of Blairsville, Adam and Sarah Copeland of Blairsville; mother, Louise Copeland of Jasper; two sisters, Kay Anderson of Marietta, Joanne Higgins of Marietta; three brothers, Gary Copeland of Jasper, Perry Copeland of Woodland, AL, and Keith Copeland of Claxton, GA; six grandchildren, Chase, Jordan and Tyler Blasingame of Blairsville, lacey and Leanne Copeland of Ashville, OH, Chelsea Kinnersley of Blairsville, many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 2, 2002 at 3 pm from the Liberty Baptist Church with the Rev. Brent Chatham, Rev. Allan Becker and Dr. David Gowder officiating.  Special music was presented by Lita Gowder, Danita and Michael Kennedy and Todd Greene.  The following gentlemen served as pallbearers, Tommy Greene, David Gowder, Charlie Gregory, Jr., Skip Payne, Kevin Payne, John Byers, James Prestridge and David McMahan.  Serving as honorary pallbearers were Ed Ashe, John McMahan, Dwight Pendland, Gene Pendland, Jacky Jones, David Rodgers, and Jack Drake.  Interment followed in the Liberty Church Cemetery.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.