Thomas Michael "Mike" Copeland

1948 - 2025

BORN

1948

DIED

2025

About

Birmingham-Southern College Georgia Tech

FUNERAL HOME

Dunbar Funeral Home - Devine

3926 Devine St

Columbia, South Carolina

Thomas Copeland Obituary

Thomas Michael "Mike" Copeland

September 21, 1948 - October 10, 2025

Columbia, South Carolina - Thomas Michael "Mike" Copeland, 77, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on October 10, 2025, in Columbia.

Mike was born on September 21, 1948, in Anniston, Alabama, to John and Margaret Copeland. He grew up in Anniston, where he developed a lifelong love of learning and a passion for swimming, competing at both the high school and collegiate levels.

A dedicated scholar, Mike earned his Bachelor of Arts from Birmingham-Southern College and went on to receive a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

In 1979, Mike married Jane "Janie" Little of Columbia, South Carolina. Together, they raised three children - Kenneth "Ken," Margaret "Maggie," and Evelyn "Evie" - in Columbia. Mike was a devoted and generous father, a loving husband, and a man deeply committed to his family. He adored his grandchildren and found great joy in family gatherings, travel, and time spent with friends. Mike and Janie shared a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure until her passing on October 14, 2012.

Mike's professional career reflected his passion for community and public service. He began his career in state government in South Carolina, serving as a senior aide to Senator Waddell of Beaufort County in the 1970s. During this time, he played an instrumental role in the passage of legislation establishing the Coastal Council (now part of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services), which helped protect the state's beaches and coastal ecosystems.

In 1980, Mike was appointed by Governor Richard Riley as the youngest-ever head of the South Carolina General Services Administration. Following his years in public service, he founded The Fontaine Company, a consulting firm focused on economic development throughout South Carolina. The company later evolved into a real estate brokerage and development enterprise, concentrating on projects in the Lowcountry and the Charlotte–Columbia corridor.

Mike will be remembered for his loyalty, generosity, intellect, wisdom, and humor. He carried a child-like curiosity about the world that endured throughout his life.

He is survived by his children Kenneth Copeland (Helen), Margaret Gardner (Bryan), and Evelyn Copeland (Dio); his grandchildren Daphne Copeland, McVey Copeland, Huxley Saldana-Copeland, and Rhodes Saldana-Copeland; his siblings John Copeland, Jim Ellis Fisher, and Steve Copeland; and his loving and devoted partner, Leslie Vang, with whom he shared the last years of his life.

Mike will be missed deeply by all who knew him, but his memory and spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mike and Janie's name to the Ronald McDonald House of Columbia, South Carolina - a cause close to their family's heart.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The State from Oct. 21 to Oct. 26, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Copeland

6 Entries

Tom Ervin

October 24, 2025

I had the pleasure of working with Mike when I served in the House of Representatives. Mike was a dedicated public servant and a great leader. Our thoughts and prayers go our to Mike´s family

Dennis Bolt

October 24, 2025

Mike was a friend and neighbor for many years, and I have so many fond memories of him and Janie and the children. Mike was a man of many talents, not the least of which was the ability to listen and put a friend's troubled heart at ease with his warmth and grace. I will always cherish our curbside chats which ranged from the very banal to the highly cerebral, but whatever the subject matter I always felt much the better for our talks. God's peace to all Mike's family.

Kathie Marsh

October 23, 2025

I remember Mike fondly when I worked as a Page for Senator Wadell in the early 1970's. After I graduated from USC, I continued working for the Senate with Senator John Drummond, who was a member of the Budget and Control Board and Mike was the Director of General Services. Both Mike and Senator Drummond had a close relationship. I remember Mike's great sense of humor as well as his dedication not only to his job, but to the State of South Carolina as well. My thoughts and prayers are with the family, as well as to Leslie, as she was a dear friend while working for Legislative Services at the State House. Sending prayers, love, and hugs to all. Rest in Peace, my dear friend.

Robert Hitt

October 23, 2025

Mike was a good man in every sense of he word. He was smart, curious, friendly and insightful. I remember back to Senator Waddell's days in passing the Coastal Council Bill...a heavy lift at the time. Mike was the one that kept the bill on track to a successful passage.. South Carolina is better because of Mike.

Jeff Mueller

October 22, 2025

Mike was a fraternity brother of mine and a wise beyond his years counselor to his many friends at Birmingham-Southern College.

Craig Davis

October 22, 2025

I first met barrel chested Grissley Adams bearded Mike when he was head of the state General Services Administration. His appearance alone was uncustomary. His personality, force of nature variety, even more so for executives at the higher reaches of state government. My task was to assist with certain legal issues including the introduction, in the early 1980s of computers, and the consequences to rearranging his workforce including reductions. He was not only a genius and insightful but led the state into the information technology era including building the state telephone system (among if not the first state to purchase equipment and set up its own telephone company on the very close heels of divestiture), construction of the state tower system that today is the backbone for ETV (and others), rearranged and made possible coordinated emergency response communications including successful efforts at the FCC, movement towards localized computing functionality and more then influential participation in the drafting of the start procurement code that was a key to the state´s ability to do all these things. More then 30 years ago he told me that one day small computers (laptop was not yet a term) would replace television! Together with Governor Riley, Jesse Coles, Sam Griswold and others, he was probably the single most important individual in putting South Carolina in the forefront of the new world of IT. These were the founding fathers of the new tech world and Mike was the Benjamin Franklin.

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