Thomas Michael "Mike" Copeland

1948 - 2025

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.