Mark Douglas Copeland

I continue to have special thoughts of Mark throughout the years. I reread the obituary above; it is so fresh in my mind. He definitely lived his job; I know when he was our "camera boy" we (The Reed Sisters) enjoyed him. He is forever a major part of our lives. Love to you all- the Family.

Dear Copeland Family,

Some of the entries in this guest book are from blogs throughout the internet as well as memorial sites on Mark. I hope you enjoy reading the memories and comments from those that love Mark. What a son you raised. What a blessing he has been to all of us.
I am so deeply sorry for your great loss. Not getting to see him, talk to him or write to him is still so very unreal to me. I am all the more grateful for the memories and the keepsakes I have of Mark....

Sorry it's taken so long to leave my thoughts. I think, until now, I still expected Mark to call and check in while driving back from Tennessee, or asking if I wanted to go on a shoot with him because it sounded fun. Only now is it sinking in that I can only see that quirky smile in memories and photographs.
I worked with Mark the day before he died. I treasure the memory of that simple, tedious, mind-numblingly boring day on a corporate shoot. But for me, it was never about the shoot....

As I have read and listened to the many stories about my good friend Mark I could just say ditto and that would cover it most of it.

I met Mark just after he had gotten his first stedicam on a United Way shoot. I was always interested in gear and gadgets and he was more than willing to show it to me. We know how Mark liked his toys as we called them. He did a few more stedicam shoots for some projects the company was working on and after he moved from Wilson, NC, I didn’t see him for a...

More Blogs:

Ike Quigley Says: (Sept 20, 2007)
I just found out about this accident last night. My first job as a video editor came in 1997 at WRAL-TV. Mark was the nicest person of the entire staff and one of the few who made me feel comfortable.

Later, we had the pleasure of working together on a few different feature films where he was the steadicam operator. I always enjoyed it when he was on set. It was always fun talking to him and catching up with each...

Celebrating the Life of Mark Copeland
More Tributes from Friends & Colleagues

Jim Goodwin
Mark was a true professional - a first-rate shooter, serious about his work, but with a sense of humor. He was well-liked and well-respected in the freelance community. He will be missed.

Former WRAL Co-Worker
Leslie Bryant
I first met Mark (or "Cope" as we all called him) around 1990 when I was at the WPTF Chanel 28 and we too had a Wilson news bureau. All three major...

I didn't know Mark Copeland but I've heard so much about him from Scott and Lisa Hanson. It is truly my loss that I didn't have a chance to meet him and get to know him.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the friends that have to heal the gap in their lives. I grieve for your loss and the loss of a friend I could have had.

Like most of his friends, I was stunned to hear of Mark’s death.

Not that he was in Florida. He was always willing to go wherever there was interesting work.

Not that he was in a helicopter. He loved flying more than Superman.

Not that he was trying to get the absolute best shot he could for whoever he was working with. That came as naturally to him as washing his car.

I worked with Mark most of the seven years I was at WRAL-TV in the late 80’s and early 90’s....

My first freelance video job was gripping for Mark. We did a spot for an optometrist’s practice. It was hilarious since the optometrist and his co-workers were somewhat inebriated. Mark’s voice was the calming influence that kept a nervous newbie from damaging several thousand dollars worth of equipment. His patience was especially noteworthy since I had been warned of his fastidiousness towards his gear. Through subsequent, but too infrequent gigs, Mark trusted me more and more with his...