Harold Jerome Copeland

A Life Well Lived

Pastor Harold Jerome Copeland was born August 11, 1961, in Quitman, Georgia. He was the fifth of nine children born to Mrs. Gloria Johnson and the late Mark Edward Copeland, Sr. In his early childhood, he was baptized at Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church of Thomasville, Georgia, by Reverend Brown.

He attended the Thomasville City Schools system and graduated from Thomasville High School in 1980. Upon graduation, he joined the military and completed a 22-year career in the Army band. He completed basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia, and served as a leader in the Staff Sergeant position. He attended School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree in childhood education. Upon retirement, he later worked as an educator in the Houston, Texas, elementary school system. He was very dedicated to his job.

His pastoral duties included being on the ministerial staff with Joel Osteen. He has frequently lead church revivals at the House of Prayer Five-Fold Ministries of Thomasville, Georgia, under the leadership of Pastor Wardell Ross, Jr., and he delivered sermons at the Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Thomasville. He was part of a radio ministry in Houston, Texas. Unfortunately, he will not be able to take Pastor Rich up on his offer to deliver a sermon at First Missionary Baptist Church.

Harold was a true man of God. He loved the Lord with all his heart. The Bible was his daily reading tool. He was dedicated to teaching God’s word. Every Saturday, he had an opportunity to have Bible study over the phone with his mother.

He married Vira Robinson on July 13, 1985, who preceded him in death. They had two sons. He leaves to cherish his memories: Christopher Robinson (Crystal) and Brandon Copeland (Tiangay) of Houston, TX; mother, Mrs. Gloria Johnson; three brothers, Ernest Copeland and Mack Copeland, both of Thomasville, GA, and Cedric Copeland of San Francisco, CA; two sisters, Rhonda Love (Matthew) and Pamela Gurly (Terry) of Thomasville, GA; grandson, Julius Jeremiah Copeland; three granddaughters, Nyla Brielle, Zuri Robinson, and Taylor Michelle Copeland of Houston, TX; devoted uncle, Larry Spencer (Eleanor) of Quitman, GA; special friends, John Fann, Cedric Fann, Bishop Wardell Ross, and Pastor Tremaine Alford; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his wife and father, he was also preceded in death by his siblings, Shametta Johnson, Darryl Copeland, and Alvin Copeland (Pattie).