Mary “Liz” Copeland, of Fayetteville, formerly of East Point, passed away on Jan. 13, 2013, at the age of 82.
Liz was born on Feb. 4, 1930, in Turin, Ga., the daughter of John R. and Mattie Lou (Beckom) Jones. After moving to Sharpsburg, she attended and graduated from East Coweta High School. At age 16, she enrolled in the Vicksburg Hospital School of Nursing where she earned a nursing degree in 1948. Following a time of working with polio patients as an RN at the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, she joined the staff of Newnan Hospital. It was there that she met and nursed a young Navy veteran by the name of Harold W. Copeland, who later became her devoted husband of 59 years. They lived in the East Point community for many years before retiring to Fayetteville in 1979.
Liz was a faithful member of the East Point Church of Christ for 54 years. She served at South Fulton Medical Center for 16 years before retiring as the Director of Nursing Services in 1979. She was a volunteer for Georgia Agape, Camp Inagehi, and Greater Atlanta Christian Schools. She was a devout Christian woman and the author of Straight Talk to Christian Women. Liz was frequently called upon to speak to ladies groups at churches and schools. She was the supportive and benevolent friend of many.
She is preceded in death by her husband Harold W. Copeland, her parents and nine brothers and sisters.
Liz is survived by her daughters, Mary Copeland of Smyrna, Ga., Sally Zengaro and husband Franco of Cleveland, Miss.; grandchildren Elisabetta and Matteo Zengaro; sisters Bernice Walker of Newnan, Frances Carpenter of Sharpsburg, JoAnn Smith of Newnan; and nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Mowell Funeral Home, Fayetteville. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, in Newnan.
The family will receive friends on Saturday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made to Georgia AGAPE or Camp Inagehi in memory of Liz Copeland.
Carl J. Mowell and Son, Fayetteville
