John Lewis Copeland

John Lewis Copeland, 76, was born on August 28, 1949 in Valdosta, Georgia. He was the fifth child of the late John Lewis Copeland and Carrie Scott Copeland. John was educated in the Valdosta School System and graduated from Valdosta Highschool in 1967. John distinguished himself as a football star athlete in the Championship game between Valdosta High and the Decatur Lions by scoring the winning touchdown from a punt on the 46 yard line and taking it to the house! That is how he earned his nickname "Lightning".
John received a 4-year football scholarship from the University of Louisville where he played on the football team for four years and made some lifelong friends, Horace Jones, Pensacola, FL, Johnny Godbolt, Gainesville, Fl., and Andrew (Andy) Williams, Louisville, KY. He graduated from the University of Louisville receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1971. Later John would further his education by earning a Master of Science Degree in1999 from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.
After graduation he was immediately inducted into the US Army. Following basic training he was stationed in Munich, Germany for a 3 year tour of duty. He received a Honorable Discharge in 1974. John returned to Louisville, KY and worked as a substitute teacher and for Job Core as a counselor. In 1977 he met Theola Noble on a bus while he was traveling to Georgia and she was traveling to Louisiana during the Christmas season. They were married in May 1978 in St. Vincent de Paul Church by Fr. Carol. To this union were born three children, Jason Copeland, Byron Copeland, and Mary Annette Copeland. Several years later John converted to Catholicism and was received into the Church during the Easter Vigil at St. Pius X Catholic Church.
John was employed by the Tennessee Department of Corrections for a short period of time. He later joined Nashville Metropolitan Park Rangers where he rose through the ranks to Lieutenant and Supervisor of the Park Rangers. He retired in 2005 after more than 20 years of service. John purchased property on Jefferson Street, which he developed, and in 2015 he opened his Car Vacuum Cleaning and Tire Air Service. He also had combination air and vacuum machines at eight locations in the Nashville area. He closed his business in 2023. He continued to service machines from convenient store owners who purchased equipment from him up until September 2024.
All who met John thought well of him. He always encouraged young people to move up into the ranks of whatever they were doing. He enjoyed working for the parks. He was familiar with all the Green Spaces that were developed in Nashville. He walked and rode his bicycle through many of them. John enjoyed being active, participating in running events at the Senior Olympics for three years, and traveling to these events in Tennessee. He enjoyed reading non-fiction, self -help books, mostly on personal finance, Black History and the history of civil rights in America.
John Lewis Copeland, Jr leaves to cherish his memory is his wife of 47 years, Theola Noble Copeland, sons, Gerald Ellery of Louisville, KY, Jason Copeland, Byron Copeland of Antioch, TN., daughter, Mary Annette Copeland, of Memphis, TN., six grandchildren Jerica Ellery, Micah Payne, Zari Ellery, and Myles Ellery of Louisville, KY., Marco Copeland Cleaves, and Matthew Copeland of Memphis, TN, two great grandchildren, two brothers, George Copeland (Tereatha) of Valdosta, GA., Foster brother Jeffery Crawford, Smyrna, TN., three sisters-in-law Annette Noble of Fruitland, MD, and Beverly Noble McDade of Lake Charles, LA., Barbara Copeland, of East Orange, NJ., four nephews, George Copeland, Jr. and John Daniel Copeland of Atlanta, GA., James Osborne of East Orange, NJ., Douglas Turner of San Diego, CA., one niece, Natasha Osborne of East Orange, NJ., five grand nephews and many cousins and friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents, John Lewis Copeland and Carrie Scott Copeland, his sisters, Helen Copeland (11 years old), Gloristine Copeland Osborne, Carolyn CopelandTurner, and brother Burnett Copeland.