William Baxter Cope Jr.

LAURENS, SC - William Baxter Cope Jr., 81, passed away on February 12, 2011 in Memphis, TN. Bill was born in Newton, NC to the late William and Clara Henley Cope on March 29, 1929.
His family later moved to Raleigh, NC where he graduated from Needham Broughton High School in 1947. He continued his education at NCSU earning a degree in Textile Engineering. After serving in the United States Army Special Forces (later designated the Green Berets), he began his work in textiles in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Egypt.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Southerland Cope of Lynchburg, VA; a son, William B. Cope III (Lynne) of Lynchburg, VA; two daughters, Katherine Cope Sawyer of Memphis, TN and Carolyn Cope Graham (Kevin) of Wetumpha, AL; 6 grandchildren; and a sister, Martha Cope Bulluck (Don) of Rocky Mount, NC.
A gathering to celebrate his life will be held at 4:00pm on April 2, 2011 at the Church of Epiphany in Laurens, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Needham Broughton Alumni Association, P.O. Box 31464, Raleigh NC 27622 or Lakeside Baptist Church Youth Committee, 1501 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount NC 27804 or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC. You may share your memories and send condolences to the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.